Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-08-23
From the Maias Farmer.
Saving Seed Corn.

II is OF the greatest importance to have
god .eed. More dspead. upon this than
upon proper preparation OF the ground
and good culture, although these are cOn.id-
Grafton. Of no small weight; ye, II a farmer
plants poor seed he can hope Sor bu, snail
crop, even II the other requisites are attend
el to. One OF our neishbOrs wa. obliged to
rcplan, hi. Geld Of four acres Of corn, the
past spring. on accOur, Of the first seed be-
ipg poor. Wishing to change hi' seed. be
obtained some from friend who ;raced M
IN, seed corn. and hung it IN the chamber
above who're hi. corn was placed to dry.
Thi. injured the vitality Of the seed, and i.
ssrminS,sl but poorly.
We have often urged the practice Of saw
in. the mosi forward ears Tor seed, and Of
gathering it in the Geld from stalks prOdae-
ing two or more ears each. We publish
bsl5wa letter originally Published in the
y. f. Farmer twenty years ago, aud also
recently ssned in many OF our agricultural
journals. which roc. far 10 settle this point
with regard 20 the selection Of sccd corn.
IL wa. written by Mr.. Baden. then residing,
a. appears by the date. near Nottingham,
Prince Georges CO.. Nd. and va. address.
cd to Hon. Henry Ellsworth, a, that tune
Commissioner Of Patents;
"Sm:-I received yours Of the irh,
making inquiry respecting the Maryland
Corn which you understood ! bad raised.
have the pleasure to ,ay that have brOugh,
this corn to its high state Of perfection by
carefully selecting the best secd in the Geld
ilr a long course OF years, having special
refrreace TO those stalk. which produced the
mos. ear When the corn was husked |
then made re-seleetiOn, taking only ,ha,
which appeared sound and fully ripe, hA'-
ing regard 10 the deepest and bs., color, as
well As the sire OF the cob. In the spring,
before shelllnc the corn. examined il again,
and selected that which was be-, in all re-
stects. In shelling the corn, omitted TO
take the Irregular kernel. at both the large
and small ends. have carefully followed
this mode Of selecting seed corn for twenty
two or ,wen,y.,hree years, and'nll continue
20 DO -. When frs, eommsnesi, !, was
with common kind of corn, for there was
none other in this part Of the country. A,
frs, was troubled TO find stalks with even
i,ro good ears on them, perhaps one good ear
apd one small one. or one good ear and a
"nu5hin.' 10 was several years before l
could discover much benefit resulting from
nv efforts: however. a, length the quality
and quantity began to improve, aud the I'M
prOvemeui was very rapid 4, present |
DO no, pretend TO lay up any sgd without
j, come. from stalks which bear fo.r, yfrs,
or nr eors. have seen stalks bearing eish,
ears. One of my neshbors informed me
iha, he had single stalk With fs. periee,
ear. on il, and iha, be intended TO send il 10
the MUSEUM at Blltimore. In addition %
tie number Of ears, and Of course the :rea,
increase in quantity unshelled, il may be
mentioned ,ha, /, yield. much more than
common corn when shellei. Some gentle
neu. In whom have iull confidence, in.
formed me they shelled a barrell 90 bushels
OF sar.l oi my kind Of corn. which 'helled
corn measured little more than 81, bGsh-
els. Tie common kind Of corn will meas.
ure about five bushels only. | believe
rai.c double or nearly - to wha, could
with any other corn have ever seen.
generally plan, my corn Abou, the dr.i o'
May, aaI place the hills Eve feet apart each
way, and Lave two stalk. in hill"