The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-08-23
Saving Seed Corn.

Ii Is OF the greatest Importance TO have
good seed. More depends upon this than
upon proper preparation oI the ground and
good culture, although thess aro considera-
tions Of no small weight; yet if farmer
plants poor seed he can hope for but small
crop, even il the other requisites are attended
to. One OF our neighbors was obliged to rc-
plant his field Of four acres Of corn. the past
spring. on account Of the first seed being
poor. Wishing to change his seed. he OBJ
tanned some from friend who traced up his
seed corn. and hung it in the chamber above
where his corn was placed to dry. This in
jured the vitality Of the seed, and it gerlnin.
ated but poorly.
We have often urged the practice oisaving
the most forward ears for seed, and Of gather
Ing it in the field from stalks producing two
or more ears each. We publish a letter
originally Published in the n. E Farmer
twenty years ago, and also recently issued in
many Of our agricultural journals, which
goes Ear to settle this point with regard to
the selection OF seed rrn. II was written by
Mr.. Baden. then residing, as appears by the
date. near Nottingham, Prince Georges
Co., Nd, and WIS addressed to Hon. Henry
l.. Ellsworth, at that timO Commissioner Of
Patents:
"Sir IL received yours Of the l4th, max
Ing inquiry respecting the Maryland corn.
which you understood ! had raised. have
the pleasure to say that have brought this
corn to its high state OF perfection by care
fully selecting the best seed in tho field for a
long course Of years, having a special refer
ence to those stalks which produced the most
ears. When the corn was husked | then
made re-selcctiOn, taking only that which
appeared sound and fully ripe, having regard
to the deepest and best color, as well AS to
the size OF the cob. In the spring, before
shelling the corn, examine it again, and
selected that which was best in oil respects.
In shelling the corn, omitted to take the
irregular kernels at both the large and small
ends. have carefully followed this mode |
ofsalectipg seed corn fIr Twenty-Five or twcn-
ty three years, and still continue 50 to do
When first commenced, it was with COM
mon kind of corn. for there was none other
in this part Of the country. At first was
troubled to find stalks with even two good
ears ON them. perhaps one good ear and one
small one, or one good eur and nubhin. IL
was several years before could discover
much benefit resulting from my Efforts; how.
ever, a, length the quality and quantity BE-.
gan to improve, and the Improvement was
then very rapid. At present do not pre-
tend to lay up any seed without it CONES
from stalks, which bear four. yfue or SIR carr.
l have seen stalks bearing eight cars. One
Of my neighbOrs informed me that he had II
single stalk with ten perfect ears on it, and
tnat ne intenueu tO etnu " W tHo huseu"
at Baltimore. In addition to the number OF
ears. and of course the great increase in
quantity unshelled, it may be mentioned that
it yields much more than common corn when
shelled., Some gentlemen, in whom have
full confidence, informed me they shelled a
barrel, 90 bushels Of ears) Of my kind Of
corn, which shelled corn measured a little
more than six bushels. rhe common kind
of corn will measure about five bushels only. |
| believe raise double or nearly Sd to what
could with any other corn | have over seen.
generally plant my corn about the first OF
May, and place the hills five feet apart each
way. and have two stalks in hill"