Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-11-04
Selecting Seed Corn.

reduced in many fields every season
by the poor quality of seed that ia
planted. Seed that was immature,
or which was injured during or after
the curing process, was planted, and
much of it failed to terminate. AT.
ter waiting several days for sprouts
to appear above ground, the farmer
ascer.ains that the seed has rotted.
1t may not be too late to replant
and obtain good crop, but the
chances are against it. The entire
length of the growing season in the
Northern States is ordinarily requir-
ed to produce a good crop Of sound
corn. If planting is delayed ten or
twelve days after the usual time,
the prospect is that the crop will be
injured. if it is not entirely destroy.
ed by an early frost.
If one is assured Of good crop
from corn which is planted late, the
trouble of cultivation is very greatly
increased. When good seed is plant
ed on land freshly prepared, it will
come up quickly, and keep 10 adj
vance of the weeds. Cultivation
will, of course, be necessary, but it
may with safety DO delayed till the
young corn is sufficiently high to
mark the rows. IT it is necessary
to replant, however, the weeds will
be in possession Of the soil, not only
before the corn is up, but before it
is planted To have q clear field
under such circumstances will re-
quire almost conatant labor through
ont the season. Il is difficult 30
fight weeds that have obtained the
start of cultivated crops.
In case part of the corn gsrmin-
ates and part does not, the situation
is not much better. Considerable
work is required to replaut seed,
and it will not come up till aftec
that first planted has made consid-
cradle growth, extra work will be
required in cultivation during tho
entire season. Whatever be tho
character of the season, the corn
will not mature at the same time,
and the chances are thst the portion
last planted will not ripen before
early frosts occur. 1t is the prac
tice of some farmers to replaut
missing hilis'' with seed OF so me
early variety, SO that the two kinds
may ripen at the same time. Secur-
ing uniform period OF ripeuing,
however, does net secure q uniform
lot of corn. 1t will be mixed lot,
and will rank low in the market.
The first essential to success 10
corn raising is good seed. If q
farmer has good variety of corn,
and it has attained fair growth
and become mature on the stalk, ne
can, by taking sufficient pains, ST.
cure reliable seed for planting. He
should secure only the best ears for
this purpose. he can make 8 much
better selection when the stalks are
standing on the bill where they
grew than after they are cut up and
put in shock. All but two or three
husks should be removed from each
ear, when they should be braided
together and hung In some airy
place to dry. An equally good plan
consists In tying the ears ia pairs
and hanging them over a wire sus.
pended in chamber or some oat-
building, where they will be protect
ed from the rain or Snow.
If farmer has not a first-class
variety of corn or has not raised o
good crop on account of a bad sea-
son, deficient cultivation, OF poor
soil, he should procure his seed from
some person who has secured su.
perior crop. 1t is generally better
to secure supply in the fall than
in the spring, rs the price will be
likely to DO lower. No crop is
more deper dent on the quality OF
the seed than corn. In the case of
small grains it ia very difficult to
select individual kernals to SOW.
Most persons object to hand picking
beans and peas with view OF So
Letting choice specimens for plant
ing. 1t is comparatively easy, how.
ever, 10 select not only the ears but
the kernels of corn for planting, as
the amount of seed required for an
acre is comparatively small.