Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 94, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1911 — WORLD’S BEST EAR OF CORN. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WORLD’S BEST EAR OF CORN.

Illinois Man Wins the Premium at National Corn Show Held at Columbus, Ohio.

R. A, James of Charleston ,111., has the pround distinction of having giown the best ear of corn in all the 3,125,713,600 busheis of last year’s bumper crop. At the National Cora Show just held at Columbus, Ohio, this gentleman was awarded the W. K. Kellogg National Corn Trophy, donated in 1909 by W. K. Kellogg, president of the Kellogg Toasted Corn Flake Co., of Battle Creek, Mich. Thousands of ears of corn from all parts of the country and of all varieties w r ere entered in the competition. The selection of the grand champion on Sweepstakes and the award of the Kellogg trophy were made on general points of superiority. The ear of grow-n by Mr. James is of Reid’s Yellow Dent variety. It is 10 inches lopg, 7% inches in circumference, and has 20 tows of kernels, 6 to the inch in the row, average % of an inch in depth, and 5-16 of an inch width. It is indeed a very correct type of yellow dent corn.' Mr. James, the winner, is a vigorous farmer about 40 years of age and of pleasing personality, a man w'ho has given careful study to corn culture, and who has achieved his success as a grand champion winner only by years of bard work and painstaking seeder-selection and careful breeding from season to season. Illinois growers are especially elated over the result for the reason that this is the first time in four years that the honors have been wrested from the state of Indiana, Last year’s champion ear, the drst winner of the Kellogg trophy was I grown by Mr. Fred C. Paiin, of New-

town, Ind, It was also of Reid’s Yellow Dent variety, crossed with Alexander Gold Standard. Last year’s winner is the most perfectly formed ear of the two, though it requirefs l ‘'ir careful judge to distinguish the points of superiority. The trophy awarded to Mr. James was made by Tiffany, of New York, for Mr. W. K. Kellogg, at a cost of SI,OOO. It is made of Sterling silver, bronze and enamels, and is a truly artistic creation. It stands 30 inches in height. Mr. Kellogg’s interest in corn growing can be understod when it is stated that the Kellogg Toasted Corn Flake Co., of which he is president, has an output requiring 10,000 bushels of corn a day, raw product, for its manufacture. A peculiar feature is that while the Kellogg product is made exclusively from selected white corn, the Kellogg trophy has been won each time by a yellow corn exhibit. The trophy is offered for annual compettion until won twice by the same grower.

The National Corn Show at which the award was made, was an event of tremendous magnitude. At one of the sessions President Taft wa§ present and delivered an address.

The W. K. Kellogg National Com Trophy

World’s Best Ear of Corn for 1910