Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1868-11-13
Selecting Seed Corn.

EVERY farmer is ready to admit that
both the quality and quantity OF his corn
crop are in great measure dependent on
the seed he plants. Still there are num-
bers who plant indifferent seed year after
year, and, as a consequence, harvest in
different crops. Now, since even the best
seed for an acre of land can he obtained
for few cents, 1t seems pity that there
Is not more pains taken to procure It.
The first thing that should be looked
after in selecting seed corn, Is to get ears
that are of the same kind both as regards
the form and color of the kernel as well
as those whose period of maturity are the
same. II does not make so much differ
ence what the color is as II does that 1t
is all the same color, for mixed corn never
sells as No. in the market, notwithstand.
ing the fact that the sorted ears of each
several variety would have been so rated
If they had been kept distinct. The same
is true of the form of the kernel.
Another thing that adds much to the
market value of corn, Is that the kernels
are of nearly uniform size. II portion
OF the kernels of shellsd corn, taken from
the middle of the ear, are of very large
| size, and another portion taken from the
ends are of very small size, their dispro-
portion shows greater by contrast, and the
lot is marked at lower grade than 1t
would be, ii there was greater uniformity
in this respect Care then should be taken
TO select those ears for seed, other things
being equal, that taper least having their
butts scarcely larger than the tips. Such
corn is much easier shelled by machine
than that which grows on ears where the
| taper is great. There will also be less re-
naming on the cob as it drops from the
shelter.
The uniform maturity of the ears OF
corn designed for the next seasons crop Is
also matter of prime importance; for II
suitable care Is not taken In this respect,
there will be difference, not only in the
period of its coming up, but in the time
the different hills will require to be cult.
waited and harvested The field too, during
all the season, will fail to present that uni.
form appearance which Is the delight Of
| every thrifty farmers eye. In growing
corn in a atolerably high northern latitude,
| IL Is often necessary TO cut up the corn on
the stalks and To shock Il, in order TO save
il from the threatening frost; and unless
there is good deal of uniformity in its
degree of advancement the labor of sort
| ing II at husking time will be very great.
Seed corn then should be selected with
special reference to the uniform ripeness
at certain time. To which end the
farmer should go through the field and
select those ears that are thorougly ripe
ON the stalks at Il certain time, instead OF
taking his seed ears from the whole field
at husking time, regardless of the period
at which they matured their growth.
Where it is desirable from the popularity
of location, or other causes, to propagate
an carly variety of corn, II Is better TO OBJ
tain seed occasionally that was grown
further north, for nature seems TO adapt
the corn crop to tho latitude in which 1t
grows,
Twin ears are always TO be preferred to
single ones, If they are equal In other re
speots and 1t has been found that ears
which grow near the ground are ordinari-
ly plumper and better ripened, than those
found higher ON the stalks. We would
reject such as do not leave the rows uni
formly straight, as we'll as those that are
not well filed out at the tips. A prefer
enoe should always be given to such ears
as have short foot stalks, as careful inYes-
tigation shows a larger proportion of them
to be models of exoellency.
Having selected the ears we design TO
furnish seed for next crop, the next care
should be 70 get them thoroughly dry, in
order 20 keep from future injury Perhaps
there is no better way to accomplish this
than by the old-tashioned method Of
braiding up the husks, and letting the ears
project irom the side. In this condition
Il is easily handled, and to secure Its dry
ing we may hang il in the sun, or in some
warm dry place In the house or barn. Y
is very important that the cob be well
dried, for the chit which contains the fu-
ture germ is located there, and Is very
liable 70 be injured if there Is moisture in
the receptacle in which it Is placed
Prairie FdTBeF