Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-08
SEED CORN.

As the planting season will soon be here,
a word or two on this subject may not be
unacceptable to our readers 7:
In country, to our shame be it spoken,
so often dependent for bread upon the gran
aries of the West, great desideratum is
the introduction of some early and product
i've variety Of Indian corn. Experience has
shown, however, that this extra early grain
is very difficult TO preserve in this climate,
on account of the ravages of the weevil. A
small proportion Of the crop only should,
therefore, be devoted TO its production.
Still, a few acres on each farm would re-
lieve the country from an immense outlay
Of money, at period of the year when ac-
cOmmodations can only be had (if at alb at
TuinOUs rates Of interest.
The Department of Agriculture is distrib-
Uting and recommend very highly species
of corn developed in 1870, by G. G. Croley,
of Manchester, Adams county, Ohio, which
is said to grow off and mature very rapidly,
and at the same time produces abundantiy.
Mr.. CrOley testities that from seed plant
ed on the Sd of May, the grain.was harvest
ed and converted into meal by the 9th Of
August. One planter In Wisconsin raised
a crop, and ground portion Of it into meal
thirteen weeks from the date Of planting.
Another in Minnesota from a pint and a
half of the same seed, realized fifty bushels
Of corn. The grain Of this variety is white,
and it is claimed TO be as prolific as any
other descIiItion.
1t is a Wei known fact that the seed corn
from Northern latitudes ripens earlier in
this region than the native grain. The
writer remembers to have seen on the sea
board experiments with the ordinary grain
of commerce received from Baltimore, fully
cOrrOborating this statement. One planter
supplied his farm with bread early in July,
from a variety procured in Pennsylvania.
As before stated, attention Is called to this
early seed simply to exc out the provisions
of the year after seasons Of scarcity. Crops
of Irish potatoes, and the whippoorwill or
the speckled pea, are useful for the same
purpose.
In the raising of a corn crop, the nature
of the seed should depend greatly upon the
character of the soil. Elevated ridges and
thin land yield best when planted with
white or yellow gOurd seed, while the white,
large grained Tuscarora, OF pure flint corn,
seems best adapted to swamp lands or allu-
vial bottoms.
1t is a curious fact that near the sea, every
description of seed corn inevitably turns in
to the flint variety, after the lapse of few
years. Farmers residing there who wish to
raise soft corn for feeding purposes are
compelled to renew their seed frcm the in
terror every two or three years. Pure
gOurd seed will show, even after the first
harvest, the small end of every ear gradual
ly changing into the glazed and indurated
flint. The writer, in common with all
others on the coast, was always forced to
select each year his seed from the softer
ears, Smelling off the flint grains at the ends,
to keep the whole crop from lapsing into
flint. The latter variety makes better hOmi-
by or grits, and keeps longer, but yields
much less -four when ground, and wears
away the teeth Of the stock fed upon it.
The Baden, Peabody's Early, and many
other prolific varieties of corn are to be
found in all parts of the cOuntry-some Of
these average from two to four ears to the
stalk. They will not do to depend upon,
however, as before stated, as birds in the
field, and insects in the crib, play sad havoc
with the grain, and render the seed difficult
Of preservation.
The main point in insuring good stand
of corn is, to look closely to the soundness
of every ear before il is shelled.
A perfect grain will remain in the ground
for many weeks, and then sprOut with GER
tainty after the seyerest spells of weather.
Soaking in a solution of coal tar and hot
water for several minutes, is a sure protec-
ton against the ravages Of birds, moles and
squirrels.
We have seen corn treated thus and
thrown into the barn yard, remain exposed
on the earth for months, constantly trampled
under foot by hogs and poultry, and yet
never a grain would they touch.
The limits of this article do not allow US
to treat of the cultivation of this valuable
cereal. Our design is simply 10 call stten-
ton to the importance of procuring the best
varieties of seed before sowing.-Nacon
Telegraph and Messenger.