The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-01-06
AGRICULTURAL.
Storing Seed Grain.

The farmer who is habitually careful with
his seed-grain, so as to get only the best, Is
doing much towards advancing toe products
of his fields, not only in starting his crop-in
which it is so important-but Throughout its
entire growth, including the berry which is
to form the eed for the succeeding year.
This is apt to be plumper and sounder, and
mnch the better calculated for the next SOW
ing, and an improvement upon the last. L
include with the grains, the seed also of the
forage plants. Always the best growth
should be selected, the greatest difficulty
here being TO obtain clean seed and keep it
clean, on account of the very foul condition
OF the land, which is crying tor some means
to relieve it, and none is so good as the fall
low, since the abandonment of which we are
overrun with weeds. What applies to the
grains and the forage plants, may and may
not, hold equally good with the potato. But
whether it does or not, good sound tuber is
certainly not disadvantage.
1t is as important to keep seed under the
proper conditions during the winter as fruit;
and pretty much the same conditions apply
it, viz, the avoidance of the extremes of tenn
perature, especially warmth, which, if mois-
ture is also present, produces incipient GER
mination. A dry, cool situation, and as lit
tie change of temperature as possible, is what
is wanted. The granary, therefore, should
be built with this object in view. There
should be double or we'll secured walls and
means for ventilation at will, and the regula-
ton not neglected. Here the seed grain. as
well as other grain, including Che seeds of
forage plants, may all be kept, the same re-
quirements applying to air As the seed
grown in our latitude terminates sooner than
that OF more southeriy growth, we should
aim to secure GOODNESS, which IS readily OBJ
tanned in winter, but somewhat difficult in
autumn and spring. We have the cool nights
to favor us here when the windows are to be
thrown open, and closed before the warm air
of the day finds entrance.
We err with our corn which is hung up ia
some loft, exposed to all the changes of the
temperature, which often are sudden and ex-
treme mot to be trusted) and the same is the
case with the hygrometic condition. Hence
for one reason the complaint so common
about seed corn, aud the great vexation and
loss it incurs, all Of which may be avoided by
proper attention given the seed, beginning in
the field in selecting, and storing it away
from the rain, where it may gradually-never
rapdly-dry, up in some loft, the ventilation
OF which can be readily controlled, transfer
ring 1t finally to the store room with the
other seeds, and keeping it there suspended,
as in the cob some moisture may be still
lurking. Keep ii out OF the corn crib, in a
climate like ours-a place which, in bad
SedSou, is SURE tO uurG IL. anu udrIu IL more
or less in any. 1t will bear more warmth
than the grains, but be careful Of the moist
uIe.
10 selecting seed let it be from such growth
as has the most qualities that are desired-as
early maturity, largeness and plumpness of
berry, large, full head, &C., and to be har-
vested before fully hardened in ripeness, Civ
ing chance to cure in wel-secured stocks.
With corn, the largest and most forward ears,
and as many on stalk as possible, should be
the aim-treatiDg the same in putting up as
the grain, only to be kept longer in stock; or
better, set under cover,if sufficient room with
free circulation of air can be obtained. For
age seed will admit of more exposure, but it
is safer and more satisfactory 10 Zee TO its
careful treatment also, not letting it get
overripe, or leaving it out in the weather
longer than is necessary. But the time for
gathering is past, and the attention is now
now to be directed to the safe.keeping of the
seed, in the carrying out of which be careful
of too much moisture and warmth the lat
ter sometimes occasoned by artificial means
in upper apartments warmed by stovepipe.
Corr, Country Gentleman.