Henderson County Historical Society

Henderson County Historical Society's Artifact of the Week

Spring planting season is just around the corner so for the next two weeks the “Artifact of the Week” will highlight ads from Henderson County, Illinois seed corn dealers from the 1930’s displayed in the agricultural building at the Henderson County Museum.

Genuine Pfister Hybrids were sold by W.L. Forgey & Son in Gladstone and C.W. Cooper in Little York under the business name of Henderson County Pfister Service.  Their ad reads, “A real farmer’s hybrid, with the ability to make a hundred bushels per acre when soil and weather are favorable, and when they are unfavorable, the ability to thrive like weeds.”

Orville Robeson and Orville Waller sold seed under the business name of Null Seed Farms.  Their ad reads, “A Hungry Child Needs Your Help.  Whether it is in the war torn Philippines, blundered Poland, starving Greece, famished France or ravished Belgium, it is the same terrible story of famine.  Help by giving to relief organizations.  But first we must RAISE the Food. Already last winter’s drought has reduced the Australian and Argentine crops to the lowest levels in years; so HUNGRY CHILDREN DEPEND ON YOU.  We know of no better way to increase your output than by planting an adapted hybrid bred for resistance.”

Fun Fact:  The average corn yield in Illinois in 1935 was 36 bushel per acre.  During this era, most Illinois farmers were just beginning to adopt hybrid corn, as yields for open-pollinated varieties remained relatively low.