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How to Double Your Corn Yields. I.—CAN THE SOUTH COMPETE WITH THE WEST? An Examination Shows That the South Has the Advantage In Every Condition But One, and H umus Will Equalize This—With Proper Farming Methods, the World Would Long Ago Have Re cognized That the South is the Real “Corn Belt.” By Tait Butler. CBOUT TWO-THIRDS of all the corn grown in the United States is grown in the seven States, .Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska. These are collectively spoken of as the “Corn Belt.” The best authorities, when at tempting to assign the reason of the adaptability of these States to the growing of corn, state that the con trolling factors are suitable tempera ture, sunshine, rainfall, and soil, and only when all these are combined is corn-growing commercially profit able. Temperature South vs. West. 1. The first three of these factors, or conditions, are peculiarly charac teristic of the South. Our period of warm weather is of good length, giving a long growing season, which always tends to large yields. This warm weather is not too hot. We are never troubled with the hot, kill ing winds of the western part of the so-called Corn Belt. In short, the temperature of the South is ideal for corn, because corn is a warm weather plant, as shown in tests at the New York Experiment Station extending over several years. In these tests the year of the highest maximum soil temperature gave the highest yields, and the yields were also largest when the average soil temperature was highest through out the corn growing Beason. Advantage of Southern Sunshine. 2. The proverbial abounding sun shine of the “Sunny South” leaves nothing to be desired in this essential factor of successful corn production. 1 Rllt In m flfA than ahnnrlant OTinahlna is our climate adapted to the needs of the corn plant. Until the nights become warm corn never makes its best growth, and the absence of cold nights throughout the corn-growing season adds to the suitability of the Southern climate for corn growing. In Rainfall South is Ahead. 3. The corn plant is a user of large quantities of water, and can not withstand an insufficient supply for any considerable period without serious injury. The rainfall of the South is large and equitably distrib uted. Except in certain restricted areas and occasional years, it is not too large on land suitably drained. The temperature, sunshine and rainfall of the larger part of the South is ideal for supplying the needs of the corn plant and if we are not naturally in the Corn Belt the reason must be in the fourth and last of the controlling factors of successful corn production—the soil. Lack of Humus Our One Limiting Factor. 4. Our soils do not, on an aver age, produce as largely as those of the Northern States named above. Why is this? It is not, as we have seen, because of lack of a suitable temperature and abundant sunshine and moisture; therefore, our soils must have in them some defect which limits our production. What is this limiting factor in our soils? This question has been an swered time and again in a manner which admits of no doubt. The sole limiting factor of our Southern soils for corn growing is lack of humus I I and organic nitrogen. That there is nothing in our climate or soils antag onistic to the most successful corn production has been shown by hun dreds of extremely large yields, in every State in the South; the best of which far exceed the largest yields ever produced in the so-called Corn Belt We Can Beat the West Whenever We Set Out To Do It The Western season is simply too cold, too short and too dry for max imum corn yields. In fact, whenever a Southern farmer, who knows mod ern corn growing, sets about the task of producing the largest yield of corn per acre, the results are such as to astonish the corn growers of the corn selling States. In these trials stable manure, humus, nitrogen, are added liberally and with these our ideal climatic conditions bring forth such tremendous yields as to arouse the incredulity of those accustomed to the narrows limits of production in ♦ Vl A XTam# It O A > 4 1 A . - Wl ^ . v“w VM vvuuoi UbaWO. IIOIUD ranging from 125 to 254 bushels per acre have become so common that they are positively bewildering. Even school boys, in nearly every county in the South where corn clubs have been organized, are producing from 100 bushels to 150 bushels per acre. Nearly All Southern Soils Good for Corn. Unquestionably the red clay soils and the black soils of our rich creek and river bottoms are best suited to corn, but even the gray soils, with yellow clay subsoils, and the sandy soils underlaid with clay, produce abundant crops of corn when properly treated for a term of years. In short, there are no soil limita tions on corn production in the South, except lack of humus and or ganic nitrogen. Fill any of our soils with humus that will supply sufflcl em. nitrogen, so mat they will hold the needed water supply, and large corn yields are assured, with modern methods of cultivation, any average year. In most Instances larger yields may be obtained by the addition of phosphoric acid, and in some sec tions by the addition of potash and phosphoric acid; but as a general rule a sufficient quantity of nitrogen, supplied through the decay of organic matter, such as legume plants or stable manure, will solve all the cli matic and soil problems for the grow ing of corn with which the Southern farmer need concern himself. These facts, actual demonstrations, prove beyond doubt that the South is naturally, strictly within the Corn Uelt, and but for defective farming und faulty cultural methods, the world would have recognized *>■!■ truth years ago. In this series of articles we shall discuss how our corn yields may be doubled. They can be trlbled and 4uadrupled nearly as easily, but this increased production will be more largely controlled by the amount of liumus introduced Into our soils than t>y all other factors combined. h'lrst, Last and All tfce Time—More Humus. Success can only come through IIUUUS. Still greater success will come through more humus. And the greatest yields will come from the greatest amount of humus. Please don’t forget this. It is Lesson No. 1. You can’t grow large yields of corn in the South without humus; you can grow the largest yields grown anywhere in America with humus. ■ This idea that there is something mysteriously different about agricul ture from other studies haH worked harm in making our teachers timid about introducing it.—W. C. Wel born. "Yesterday cannot be recalled; to morrow cannot be assured; this day only is yours." TL. Better Sample, Increased Capacity, I nese ad vsntsscs. ^ ****• i**** ute. l**. ® Attendance, and Moat Economical ara found only in the LUMMUS AIR BLAST GIN SYSTEM It’s to your interest to investigate, and we'll tell you all about it if you will simply send us your name and addresa. F. H. LUMMUS SONS C0„Cohirabus,6t. COLE’S CORN MILL • Thousands in use all over the country snd every one giving perfect satisfaction and making perfect corn meal. We have been building high claw machinery since 1855, and we know from practical eaperience what ia necessary to make a perfect corn milL We use the Eaopua Mill Stone, and the frame la heavy and steady. The Stones are properly faced sod furrowed and accurately balanced and equipped with rtlf adjnaling balance iron that keepa them steady. Write for full detailed description prtrsa * R. D. COLE MFC. CO, Nmu, Ga. l>^—— Gantt Distributer, No. 2 Rotary Feed r o^ti la built on steel frame with covering plows to list or bed r »• • on guano when put out all 8 r one operation, one man and horse; hopper holds nearly **»»*»«. twice the amount of guano. _l i _■___ "_ . PW ca’.loa CAN 11 MFC. CO.,Mm, fit. jwm m nixiE Planers and Matchers I 13 TEARS ON THE MARKET. AND NOT ONE RETURNED mro »i*hl ninnir.tf. **4 .tn>|>U. Will m.irh nvaiUsuyf*. Will tSjrtt ;« la. »t<i« by 6 In. «M Ir. »>-d n.»Th to |n. »1<V. by i In. lu f la. II.. J. na4 m*k* J ».<W » cnpi .ly .0 b> 40 In r»| n. prt U'«k Up > u» ljffi.br t iu4 an I hr btuT4. W. .UnbuildSm»Mj:u. »ui s.w Mm gEjT !>»•>» Sim, etc. W.m lay O'jkM Ha. tin SALEM IRON WORKS. Wuuiom-SMtm, N. C ^Z^lidZ^ui nLL*;*u •> - I U« *J., «r -Tf yT L *’ • • • —* «••* - I _^ttUt T * *** °° . Km *n>»ui« ai, «aru cu •*. :u I UET A RANEY CANNER A“d If “Iu*ch yo“ h,m ““ “*« FINEST good. In the world. Itwill prove to be the beet tavwtment you ever mede. »P^1»I Inducement. offered NOW. I>rop u. » card todey. TH. BAN,, CANNBB OO.c.