The progressive farmer and southern farm gazette., March 12, 1910, CORN SPECIAL, Page 187, Image 11

About The progressive farmer and southern farm gazette. (Starkville, Miss.) 1910-1920

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close around the shank, which should be of me
dium size.
Tips.—The more nearly the grains cover the
entire end, and the longer they are, the better.
Of course, the rows should run straight and reg
ular from butt to tip. If the ear maintains Its
size well towards the tip the grains will he larger
and deeper and there will be the same number
of rows.
Kernels.—The color of the kernels should be
uniform and true to variety or type. That Is, a
white variety should not show yellow kernels and
a yellow variety should not have grains with a
white base. Any variation from the variety color
Is an evidence of a short pedigree or mixing. A
moderately deep kernel, with a wide base, giving
It a wedge shape that fills the entire space be
tween the outer circumference, formed by the
bares of the kernels and the rob. Is the desirable
shape of kernel. Too short a kernel gives too
great space between the rows and a less quantity
of corn. Too deep or long a kernel Is apt to be
small at the germ end and lack vitality.
Ck»b.^Whlte varletio* of corn should have
white robs, and yellow vgrletle* usually hare red
cob*, which should be of a uniform shade. Roth
red and white cobs In a variety Indicate that It
has not been bred pure long enough to establish
uniformity. Too small cobs do not give sufficient
space for enough kernels, or rows of kernels, and
If the kernels are of good size, they are too small
at the cob. with weak germs Too large cobs
usually have very shallow or short kernels.
Why are the characters of stalk, ear and kernel
a bore-described the best? Simply because It has
been found that corn having these qualities pro
duce* more corn per acre.
The Split Log Drag Again.
nHK PROPER use of the simple spilt log
drag would save our Southern farmers
many thousands of dollars during tho sea
son of bad roads In late winter and early spring
Discussing Its great value, Mr. D. H. Winslow, of
the Hoad Division, United States Department of
Agriculture, who has been helping the local au
thorities In New York County, 8. C., gives this
higbly Interesting story of how the drag origi
nated:
•'The object of the split log drag Is not
solely to round up a road as so many people
think; but rather to make It shed the water.
The inventor got his Idea from a hog wallow.
Having noticed that a hog wallow holds wa
ter longer than any ordinary mud puddle, he
began to study out the reason, and at last
from watching the pigs as they wallowed and
twisted about over the bottom, decided that
the wallowing and twisting had a peculiar
trowellug effect on the mud that closed the
Interstices against the drainnge of the water.
Then the Idea occurred to him that If he could
produce this same troweling effect on the
surface of a road, ho mtrht make It shed wa
ter also. He finally hit upon the split log
contrivance, and dray*,, ng It over the road
after rains fo t* the process not only
helped to sitae<» roads up. but that they kept
In shape."
A Thought for the Week.
-Hl’.SK A I: I: UKTTKH day* than the no-call
«d golden days of the fathers. Despite the
extent of political corruption, at no time
have the American people been more Insistent
upon political purity. It Is not the hour of tri
umph of the powers of darkness, hut of
tho regenerating Influences of light. The most
r~“ " ■'
i—_ _
f“ What's The News?”
Br CLARENCE H. POE.
The Week’s Happenings.
BY FAR THE MOST interesting news Item of
the week Is that which tells of the pro
posed "Rockefeller Foundation,” a philan
thropic organization greater than the world has
fiver before known, to which will probably go the
bulk of John D. Rockefeller’s enormous fortune.
The objects of the Foundation as set forth in the
proposed charter to be granted by Congress are as
follows:
"To promote the well-being and to advance
the civilization of the people of the United
States and Its Territories and possessions and
foreign lands, In the acquisition and dissemi
nation of knowledge. In the prevention and
relief of suffering, and in the promotion of
any and all the elements of human progress.”
The movement become more slgnlflcant from
the fact that John D. Rockefeller, Jr., the Oil
King's only son, has resigned as a director in the
Standard Oil Company and other corporations, and
In association with a board of picked men, will here
after give his entire time to handling the colossal
project of philanthropy now Inaugurated. It is
thought that young Rockefeller wishes to become
famous as the world's greatest philanthropist as
| his father was the world’s greatest trust magnate.
Already Mr. Rockefeller (now seventy-three
year* old) has given $53,000,000 to the General
Education Board. $25,000,000 to Chicago Univer
sity. and nearly $50,000,000 to various other ob
jects. At first Interested chiefly In helping col
leges, universities, and foreign missions, Mr.
Rockefeller's Ideas have broadened. He has be
come Interested In the movement for better com
mon schools. The vision of what may be accom
plished by the prevention of disease has come to
him, and he has recently given $1,000,000 to
fight hookworm disease In the South, and had
formerly given $4,000,000 for general medical re
search. Dr. Knapp's co-operative demonstration
work has also Interested him, and a considerable
appropriation has gone to that. Reformatories,
city parks, and the Bureau of Municipal Research
have also been remembered In his donations.
From having been one of the most unpopular
men In America, Mr. Rockefeller Is now likely to
become famous In his age as a philanthropist as
grently venerated as Peabody. He won his
wenlth wrongly, and In this way he seeks to make
restitution to the people. We honor him for this,
but It should not make us less earnest In seek
ing to prevent such colossal plunder of the people
In the future. The fault was not so much In Mr
Rockefeller's seizing the opportunities for wealth
making as In the failure of Congress to pass laws
which would have made such public plunder im
possible.
J»
We must confess that In the strikes and labor
troubles now so widespread there seems to be
irenulne threat of financial disturbance for the
country at large. The situation takes on added
seriousness from the fact that the balance of trade
. In favor of the United States for January was the
smallest In twenty years. Exports were the
smallest In five years and Imports the largest on
j record. It Is becoming Increasingly evident that
1 our people have been going at too fast a pace,
and that only the old-fashioned virtues of thrift
and economy can prevent disaster. If the enor
mous increase in gold production continues, raon
ej must become cheaper and cheaper and prices
higher, until we reach a condition similar to what
would have been expected if Bryan and free silver
had won in 1896.
Jl
Congress is giving attention to the appropria
tion bills, largely with a view to carrying through
the measures which will help Representatives in
their struggles for re-election this fall. It re
mains to be seen whether the voters will be bet
ter satisfied with these jobs and schemes than
they would be with large-minded, statesman-like
attention to the big questions confronting the na
tion.
Jl
The Ballinger-Pinchot inquiry became sensa
tional again when Mr. Pinchot took the stand the
other day and presented more damaging evidence
against the Secretary of the Interior. The con
viction grows that Mr. Taft will be forced to drop
Mr. Ballinger in spite of the strenuous fight he
has made for the suspected official. The extent
of the land frauds in Alaska and elsewhere is
suggested by the fact that a syndicate has been
trying to get for $250,000 coal mines which ex
perts estimate are worth $12,500,000.
Jl
Jeff Davis, of Oklahoma, who perhaps has less
influence than any Senator of this generation, is
in serious trouble now. It hasn’t been long since
Senator Burton, of Kansas, was sent to the peni
tentiary for accepting fees for appearing as the
representative of private interests in Government
matters at Washington, and now the Arkansas
Senator seems to have confessed to the same of
fence. He may not be prosecuted, but the Inci
dent will doubtless lose him some of his strangely
won prestige.
Jl
The latest news from Nicaragua—we can not
say how reliable it is—Is that the Insurgents hare
been crushed. We hope not. If there was ever
a wretchedly misgoverned country, Nicaragua
seems to have been.
jt
The United States Senate has voted $30,000,000
for Irrigation projects In the West. It should
never be forgotten that drainage is as important
in the South as Irrigation is to the West, and we
should have more determined efforts in behalf of
our needed drainage projects here.
Jt
The Louisiana Legislature meets May 9th, and
ft is gratifying to see the constructive character
of the important legislation that is to come be
fore it. “Measures for the improvement of the
roads, laws regulating the school system, meas
ures looking to conservation of natural resources,
increasing the efficiency of the State Traveling
Auditor and the system of accounting in State in
stitutions,” are the Important topics Indicated by
the correspondent of the New Orleans Plcaqune.
Jt
The Liberal Government in England will hava
a free hand until after Easter. Rather than run
the risk of forcing another general election now,
the Conservatives did not call for a division on
the Prime Minister’s program when It was pre
sented the other day. Immediately after Easter
Parliament will begin work on the plans for re
forming the House of Lords.
Jl
Some one is responsible for the statement that
not since the days of Alexander of Macedon
have such preparations been made for the gen
eral reception of any man as are now being made
In Europe on account of the early coming of
Theodore Roosevelt. The Emperor of Germany,
the President of France, and the King of England
are an maxing almost unprecentea oi
ficial arrangements (or his visit.
J*
All over the country Sunday, April
24th, Is to be celebrated as “Anti
Tuberculosis Sunday.” It is gratifying
to see that the churches are to take
hold of this movement, which means
so much for humanity. Since the Mas
ter gave so much of His time to heal
ing individuals, it is fitting Indeed
that lfis church should give as full
hearted support to a movement which
will save lives by thousands and ulti
mately, no doubt, by millions. Get
your pastor interested.
significant feature of our present life
Is not the widespread existence of evil,
but the organised efforts to check It,
.not civic Indifference, however
lamentable u»uy be Us scope, but the
widening demands of public spirit and
the more emphatic assertion of com
munity rights; not political manipula
tion. but the Indignation of the people
at Its abuses; not full bless legislators
and administrative officials, but the re
sentment which they arouse and the
narrowing range of their Illicit activ
ities.—Governor Charles K. Hughes,
In address at Philadelphia, Pa., Feb
ruary 22. 11110.