Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-12-24
To. .demonstrate The necessitv for

3 reform in this particular it is only nee
J essary TO advert 10 the manner i
I which the seed-corn is usually obtain
cd. In tho fall of the year the crol
: is Unfortunately gathered and haul
, cd to the crib, and thero all, rood
, bad, and Indifferent, Is thrown int
! one pile. 1t there lies until spring
and q few days prior to the day des
, ignated for the commencement O
planting, (and more frequently on tn
, morning of that day,) the "hands" ar
ordered 10 the crib TO select "seed
, corn." They commence tho work
and the first dozen ears that ar,
} shucked are found to be "weevil eat
en-" and are rejected. The next doz
en- are found to have the "black-eye,
and are also rejected; until at las
some one of tho "hands" comes across
a little "nubbin" which is pronounced
sound, and that is thrown aside fol-
"seed." Thus the work proceeds un
I'll sufficient quantity for planting
the crop has boen obtained. The sece
has been selected, but the only quality
deemed essential was soundness; the
long grained "gourd-sced," the broad
"Tuscarora," the round Clint" with
out any discrimination, are brought
into close juxtapositioh. In due time
under the influence of favorable
season, the heart of tho farmer il
gladdened by the sight of "gooc
stand" He goes to work zealously
and by unremittod toll gives his oroI
the advantage of good tillage until il
is brought to full maturity. In the
ensuing fall he proceeds TO gather the
fruit of his labor and is greatly dis.
appointed to find that the yield has
not come up to his anticipation, but,
with philosophic composure, he con.
soles himself by attributing the fail.
ure TO the unsuitablencss of the eli.
mate, and reiterates tho oft-rcpeatcd
but unfounded assertion that "this il
no country for growing corn :.
Let not our industrious but mistak.
en- friend be discouraged that Provi.
dence has cast his lot in this southern
cline, so favorable TO the enjoyment
of health and long life, and prolific in
the production of the kindly fruits Of
the earth, Let him for ono moment
pause and reflect. Let him scan the
authentic statistics furnished by the
Agricultural Department at Wash
ington, and he will there discover that
New England, with her granite hills
and three inches of cultivable soil, her
cold and rigorous climate, and her
Shorthand uncertain scasons-in des-
pite of all these disadvantages-re.
ports q higher average" in the pro-
duction of corn than does the far
famed West, the recognized Egypt of
this continent, and indeed OF the
world. 1t is not any defect in soil or
climate that causes him from year to
year to reap the bitter fruit Of disap.
pointment; it lie the absence Of that
painstaking which so eminently char
acterizes the agricultural operations
of the New England farmer. Let our
southern farmer and planter emulate
this commendable characteristic of
tho eastern agriculturist. Let him
now, this very seasop, resolve to turn
over now leaf, and, as . first step in
the proposed new reform, determine
to carry into practical effect the re.
commendation heretofore urged for
the Improvement of the cotton seed.
This can be dono with but little ex
ira trouble by requiring of the hands,
in breaking-in the crop, TO bo careful
whenever they come across Q stock
bearing more than a single ear to cut
IL off above and below the ears, and,
with the ears attached thereto, throw
it INTO the heaps,to be hauled with .be
same to tho crib, where it can be
readily separated and kept apart by
itself until such time as may be con.
venient for the farmer TO mako the
proper selection. Having by this
method secured tho essential quality
of "prolificness," he proceeds to select
from this pile sufficient number of
such ears as are recommended by their
superior size and excellence of grain,
it being a matter of first importance
to select grain that will most cfiec.
tually resist the attacks of the wee
vii. These should bo put into bar
rels and tho intcrstces between the
ears well filed up with perfectly dry
sand or wood.ashes. Thus treated It
will be exempt from the inroads Of in.
sects and preserved in good condition
until the season for planting. In max
ing this selection uniformity in the
character OF the grain ought not to
bo neglected.
But lot not our farmer who has en-
tered upon the path of reformation be
content with the regult Of q single OK.
pertinent. Let him remem ber that
the purpose of selection is not for the
benefit of single crop, but to impart
tho quality of "fxcdness" to partic.
ular "type," and TO resist the natural
tendency TO degeneration To attain
this .Jss;.aUfe result ho mnst, as in the
case Of cotton, make the "seed patch"
a permanent institution, from which
bc may from year to year not only
obtain an abundant supply of i'm.
proved seed for tho planting of the
entire crop, but be enabled TO improve
his selections TO the very highest point
of excellence. When we reflect how
small quantity of corn is required
to seed largo area of land, is Il not
passing strange that this vitally i'm
portant subject should bo so univer-
sally neglected? Let this opprobE.
um no longer rest upon the farmers
and planters Of Gadsden Comfy, but
lot them rise TO a full appreciation of
the needed reform, and then we may
hope that ere long dear "old Gads.
deD," now struggling with tho diff
nnltics that environ and oppress her,
shall rise like the phoenix from its ash.
es, and become rs noted for the full
ness and abundance of her corn crops
as she has heretofore been for the ex-
cellcnce Of her Cuba tobacco. Hcnec.
forth let Excelsior be the agricultural
motto OF this association.
->-e-