Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1869-10-14
Saving Seed Corn.

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Great loss results each year from
the use Of poor seed corn. Fields
have often TO be planted over and
over again, until it is too late fol
The corn to mature and then beans
are sometimes used to fill the set
This trouble occasionally may be
the result Of extremely cold wealth
er, or Of low grounds; but in nine
times out oftenj ifnot ninety-nine
out of a hundred, it is directly
chargeable to want of care in Sc
lecting and curing the seed in the
fall. Many pay little or no atten-
ton to it; going in the spring to
the crib, they pick out the ears that
/ look best; but they often find that
their good looking corn is wanting
In vitality.
Some seasons when the weather
is dry, and the corn ripened early
and was gathered in first rate con;
lition, the vitality may be presert-
ed through the winter in the crib;
but we question whether it is not
generally weakened, so that its pow
er of termination is dependent up
on favorable weather and good
condition of soil. Most corn has
some moisture, at least in the cob,
when put into the crib, and when
in mass, it has q great tendency
to sweat or gather dampness and
then heat follows. The process Of
heating always Injuries the vitality.
When the corn is perfectly dry in
kernel and cob, cold weather will
not affect it, but where there Is the
least moisture about the chit, freezs
ing is fatal to the power Of germin-
alton.
A very common way of select
ing the seed is to pick out the best
ears when the crop is being gather
ed. This may be safely done in ia
torable years, where corn is thor
oughly ripened, and the weather
has been favorable for curing it;
but it is much better to go into the
field and select from the stock,
such ears as are most perfectly
formed and filled. Where two or
more well filed ears are found on
the same stock, they should be ta-
ken; for the tendency Of "like to
beget like" holds good in the veg
etable, as in the animal. The main
point in the care needed, after the
selection is made, is to thoroughly
cure both kernel and cob, Don't
let it freeze until it is perfectly dry.
The most suitable way, perhaps, is
TO leave a few husks on each ear;
braid them into a string, and hang
up in a dry room. 1t will answer
to spread it on the floor of a dry
and well ventilated chamber
The prospect Of the corn crop
this year is very poor indeed
Some pieces may get ripe, but un-
less frosts hold off till late in the
season, there will not be much corn.
Consequently much greater care will
be necessary to secure seed, We
certainly should pick out The ripest
and best seed to be found but it is
not indispensable that the corn
should be fully matufed, to secure
its reproduction. This may not
seem correct to some, yet we state
it is the result of ohr experience
and observation; that where neces7
sity compels the selection of seed
from corn struck by frost before
fully ripe, where the chit has not
been frozen, it can be cured in such
a way as to preserve its germina-
ting power. i
The vital energy is carried by
the silk to the chit, early in the sea
son; then the silk dies, and no fur
ther seminal power is transmitted,
and all the after process of growth !
is to build up about this germ ma
teriaI for its protection and future
The vital power is
there, and if preserved from freez
Ing and heating and the effects of
moisture, even if the berry lacks
somewhat in its perfect develope-
ment, it win germinate. We have
.ried this ourselves and know of
1thers who have had the same ex-
1erience. OF course we would not
1e understood as advising the use
If such corn for seed unless neces-
Iity compelled; for we believe the
more perfect the seed, the better
he crop; but we have made these
to show that much, very
much depends on properly curing
he seed.- Western Farmer.
.