The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, September 21, 1905 WILLIAM RELPH, one of the leading farmers of Benton Township, informs the Leader that the storm on Monday damaged the corn crop in that section to the extent of not less than 10 per cent, tearing off the larger ears and blowing the stalks over. Did you ever stop to think what a precarious existence KING CORN has anyway? In the spring time it has to run the gauntlet of cutworms when the weather is wet and the nights are cold. Then when it peeps through the ground an attack of jaundice is frequently in store and it makes puny headway until the warm days in June when it begins to grow a little. Next the drowth overtakes it and it hovers a time between life and death with the hectic fever of July. After this comes weanin' time when the moist earth is no longer packed about its roots and it stands up knee high and is expected to throw out its spurs. This corresponds to the teething period of infants and engenders much anxiety. In a short time it tassels like a belle of fashion and stretches out its arms for the male plant. Here often hopes are blighted and the scorching winds produce a barrenness and a season of desolation. The autumn winds sway it blithely and maim and the early frosts come to wither for a prem! ature harvest. Besides a certain per cent is condemned and has an ignominious end in a tincture called forty-rod whiskey. KING CORN is a powerful old potentate but his reign is not in a bed of roses. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert September 2, 2004 [email protected] *Wonderful analogies! Being an Iowa native, I NEVER thought of corn growing this way!? -- And, its 'disgraceful' ending in whiskey.......