Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-03-29
eYsriru1mra1.
House slllu Farm,
rnsnfe Heea.COrn a Word OF
Fair Warming.
By Professor @. E. Morro,D, ltISnoss
.In1Mtrtcl University

lnINLTtOt CH<OcfottH
The autumn Of lss2 was exception
ally unfavorsh's for maturing the
.orn.cror in much Of the great corn
producing region Of tho West. In
consequence Of this therezs great lack
Of good seed corn. For instance. 1t is
-1,uctless moderate statement that
no, one bushel IN 1000 Of tbs corn
srown in Central lllinoie last year is
sntabls for planting. Mnca OF 1t
will not gern,n~te under nost favor
sole conditions almost all OF the
larger and later maturing varieties 's
practically worthless for seed. On
-be Industrial University Farms
there was carefully aeleoted bout 500
bushels Of different varieties. | could
rot guarantee the growth Of any save
Ct Ole early aud valuable yellow dent
variety. Of which, fortunately, we
have a fair stock.
THIS is a serlous disaster. Suppose
it rhculd barp,p tina, no ceed corn
-~as to be found AZ al, New England {,
al would nl.!.r tnis Il misfortune
But each Of several COUNTIES III LII
,o;e grows more corn annually than
does all New England. Put the mat
t.r 10 another way In Illinois alone
-hers will be at least 1000 900 acres
70 be planted in ooru in the region
where. at the best, there is doubt
ABOUT the goodness Of the seed This
means tho need Of 500,(00 bushels Of
seed corn ID part Of one State alone.
The loss 10 not only 10 he counted
b. the extra trouble and money out.
lsv neceeesrv to secure good seed, but
~ .be loss Of many well-testcd an!
valuable varietlcs. On our farms va
,le,,,s which have ns'ured in good
season in all previous years, 80 far
failed 10 mature in 1852 that we are
reduced 10 ono or two spe clmeu ears
Of crop Of 1851. have today sent
10 Nebraska for seed OF cur leading
fellow deut variety having sent seed
there last year. Tne chief reliance
for seed is from the further West and
Southwest. Most Of the varietI.s
grown N Kansas, Southern Missouri,
eft. are not nearly SO well suited .or
Contra! or Northern Illinois at tso-e
which W" nav. been cuItivatinE 4nG
Improving Tor years rast.
!aar that even more serious los!
will come to manv from failure to ~
preciate the situation, and from plant
ing corn which vii! prove to hsv'
been wholly or partly worthless
Many farmers piaut corn withou
testing it's vitality This year nue.
that, TO casual examination, seem
satipfactory, is worthless. Careful
testing At once Is a matter OF grea
Importance Examination Of th
germ in the kernels is fairly satlstac
tory. II will often clearly show tina
the corn will not grow. But placinI
Kernels from considerable numbe
uE cars in moderately favorable conai
,,on Tor growth Is, by far, the hes
thing to do. 1t should be Aept /
mind tina, :. j. not enough that ther
should be termination under the oes
conditions. Many seeds which wi
grow with fayorin, conditions Or
worthless IN field culture.
Where there is good corn Of the Gro
Of 1881 1t will probably give fairl
satisfactory seed; but there is little {
this in store. especially in such cond
ton as is desirable. If the home SUP
ply BE- worthless. prompt action shout
b. taken. 1t is not simply matte
OF getting corn which will grow b'
OF getting good seed OF variel
adapted to the region in which it is
be grown.