The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-03-13
W Z
January, 1861. g. C. BECkW ITH.
What kind Of Corn shall we Plant.

This is a question il which the farmer
is much interested, and about the time Of
year when he should begin to think about
it. There are.many different varieties of
corn raised in the west, but as general
thing they have become so mixed by grow
ing in the same vicinity that it is now
very difficult to obtain pure variety of any
of the field cornS, especially in northern
Illinois and Iowa. In Southern Illinois
they grow the large white dent most ex-
clusively. In the northern part Of the
State mixture Of the yellow dent with
most all other kinds is generally raised. -
Occasionally farmer plants the large
white variety, and it does well if the sea-
son is long enough for it to mature. When
it is mixed with the yellow dent by plant
ing together it makes fine corn, the ears
large and heavy and the cob small. But if
you keep on planting the same after mix
ing you will find in the course Of two or
three years, that it has very much degen-
Grated. The ears will be small and not so
many rows to the ear as formerly, the ker.
nels smaller and the cob larger. We be-
licye farmers have taken too little pains in
the past to procure pure variety of corn
for seed, but have been content to plant
most any thing that would grow, and out of
the same mixture year after year. If other
grains such as wheat, oats, barley, &C., can
be improved by carefully selected pure
seed, why not corn? We believe it almost
impossible to procure poor article Of yell
low dent which is an exc u.nt variety for
this latitude maturing early. If seed
corn should be brought from southern
Ohio or Indiana every two or three years, it
would in our opinion prove of great advan-
tage to the farmers upon our prairie soil
If we could increase the yield of corn five
or ten bushels per acre by careful selcc-
tion and planting Of seed, we shall be great
ly to blame if we neglect or fail to do SO.
The white corn grown south of the Illinois
river We thi k would ripcn well in the cx-
treme northern part of the State, in all
Iowa, and in southern Minnesota. 1t is
raised in Marshall county to the exclusion
of nearly all other kinds and this in lat-
tude Al , There is one other variety or
rather a mixture that does well in this re-
Sion, we saw sample of it at friend Gif.
iord's, near Wyanet, Bureau county the
past season, and now have two ears hang
Ing in our Office from his field. This would
not however pass inspection in Chicago
market (hard 10 tell what VIII, as pure
white. As the kernels on the red cob have
a pinkish color, which no doubt prevents
it making good whiskey giving pinkish
appearance to the nose and eyes Of those
who use 1t.
But we have somewhat wandered from
our subject. In conclusion We would urge
upon all the Importance Of selecting good
seed for planting. The heaviest ears with
the grains large and perfect and the cob
small. Never shell for seed the grain near
the tip and where they begin to diminish
in size. One thing more. Don't forget to
plant good sized patch Of Stowells sweet
corn or some other variety of this excel
lent table luxury, and be sure and have
plenty Of it dried for winter use. In do
ing this, don't scald as some do before dry
ing, but cut from the cob and spread on
tins or plates around the stove and it will
soon dry.-Farmers Aaooeats.