The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-10-19
Have You Saved Your Seed-COrn!

Farmers make no greater mistake than
to neglect to put up enough seed corn, and
to spare, AS soon as the grains are suffi-
GENTLY glazed to prevent brrising. Corn
may grow, yet not be the best of seed, and
the only way to know something of how
much is annually lost through neglect, is
to have some of the best and poorest seed
to plant side by side to realize the contrast
of results when the crop is grown. If
seed is properly saved it grows vigorously;
gets ahead of the weeds and natures
earlier than that selected in the spring
in haphazard way or poorly saved in
the fall
By going through the field early in the
fall and selecting the beat and earliest
ears, you will prevent deterioration of
quality and kind of corn, which is very
rapid unless this is done. Selecting the
largest and most mature ears will help
keep up the quality of the corn. Narrow,
rough kernels generally insure depth of
grain, small cob and early ripening quail
tiles. Corn of this description is also
more easily masticated by stock, it being
generally less fiinty than the shallow
grained varieties If we can only impress
upon our readers the truth of the matter,
that the difference between whole and
half crop of corn is the difference between
good and poor seed, and that good seed
can only be secured by proper care at the
proper time, which is before any biting
frosts come, we shall feel that we have
added millions of bushels to the corn
growing regions of our country.
The ears may be either tied in pairs by
few of the husks left upon each. or
husked clean and spread upon platform
to dry, and hung up high, out of the way
of vermin. If the weather is not very
drying it is not safe to put the corn away
before exposing it to the rays of the sun
few days, or drying it by artificial
means. 1t should be dried promptly to
insure it against mold or freezing wealth
er. In our opinion, taking one year with
another, two or three days spent in putting
up plentiful supply of seed-corn as it
should be, would be more profitably spent
than whole month during almost any
other part of the year.
To hang the corn or place it where it
can be smoked few days, will put it in
condition beyond question. The heat
will dry it out and the smoke leave COW
ering upon it which will protect it from
the changes Of temperature, from insects
when planted, and be stimulus to it
when it starts to grow. 1t is hardly posi-
bic for farmer to devote more time in
the selection and care of his seed-corn,
than will be returned to him in tenfold
ratio in the crop which may be produced
from it.
When the seed is saved, be sure that it
is placed beyond the reach of vermin
Mice will walk with feet uppermost if
they only have two sides to brace them
against. Suspend the frame or scaffolu
which supports the ears, by wire or rods
OF iron, which can neither be gnawed off
or descended by the little rodents Do not
fail to save the seed-corn in proper condi
ton, for it is often worth, in a wet, back
ward spring nearly a whole crop Of corn
to the man who devotes a little time to
saving it just at the proper season.-West-
erx Ro,onl