The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-08-02
Agricultural.
From the Independent Republican.

SEED CoRN.-Thereappc to be general
complaint ofthe farmers that their corn does
not come mp. Several reasons are assigned
for it, and with your favor will give mine,
based upon experience and close observation,
hoping thereby that similar event may here
after be prevented. [ do not think, as some
do. that the corn of last year was not fully
maturcd, because if that were the case, | can
not see why mine should be exempt-minc
has come up unusually well. The cause of
failure must be looking for in some other quar-
ter. If our farmers generally had selected
their seed when they had cut their corn, husk-
I'll it, and put where the cob would have been
fully dried before winter came, their seed
would not have failed in a single instance to
terminate. | am quite sure that mine would
have proved complete failure had not ia
ken special care of it.
Sometimes corn becomes heated and injured
Cor seed, by putting too much in shock; it
is also often injured by its becoming frozen.
But all such can be as readily told, as can be
blightcd potato or rotten apple The ma
tural lustre of the kernel is destroyed, and
blistcrs, apparently. cover the surface of it
sometimes only deeply between the rows
and on the edges of the kernels, (the grain
appearing otherwise bright and fair) which
can only be detected by Smelling. To plant
corn under such circumstances, is more than
hazardous; a failure is morally certain. The
appearance of the cob is that of the kernal, |
always reject it-becausc my experience is,
that it is unfit for seed; hence was much
more particular selecting and taking care of
my seed corn.
My method Of selecting my seed is this =
When cutting up my corn, the earliest and
larger ears leave standing on the stock. till
after have done cutting -somctimcs for ten
days, or even longer. When have leisure,
| gather them, husk them partly, braid into
strings, and hung them in an airy place where
they will speedily and certainly dry before
frost comes, or put them, as did last fall, in
an upper room, warmed by a stove pipe pas
sing through it.-"Our women" complained
some Of making granary of the chamber, but
my corn having come up first rate, presume
she will not hereafter make objections.
At the time of husking | make another Sc
lection for seed, and put in a dry situation
as SOON as possible, never throwing into the
heap with the other corn, as many often do.
That which select in field always plant as
far as it will go, because it has the tendency
to make the succeeding crop earlier
The extra labour in the way propose, is
merely trivial. | don't lr, tend that my me-
thod is the very best 1T has never failed me.
If better and snrer way can be adopted, by
all means let us, one and all, follow it; be-
cause am sure we cannot be too particular in
'hc selection of our seed for planting, nor too
careful in putting it up for subsequent use. -
Corn is our most important grain crop; hut
bad seed destroys every favorable prospect.
How important then, that this almost inesti-
Unable grain should he kept free from being
heated while curing, and be perfectly cured
and dry before the cold of winter sets in and
thus he secure from danger.
In more genial climes, seed corn may be
preserved in almost any way; but in our re-
gion is not so. 1t only remains then, to IT.
stitute and pursue the course Of carcfuIncss
which the circumstances Of our country so
signally require.
~ VI