The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-09-25

which they were produced. And in both
these respects great differences will be
found in the corn of the same variety.
even when growing in the same hill.
1t Is impossible to combine all good
qualities In one variety. Early matT,-
rity IS especially desirable north of say,
40 degrees, but remarkable earliness is
never accompanied by large size and
great productiveness Our experiments
have shown that, one year with another,
we get better results from varieties
which are not either extreme as to the
size or time of ripening. This would be
still more true in regions furthe north
until Localities are reached where early
maturity is the chief essential.
Among undesirable qualities for any
northern region may be named exces-
sive size of stalk, in height or thickness,
or the opposite extremes the habit of
bearing the ears very high up, on long
Or very thick shanks > cobs of great
thickness, or with marked differences in
thickness at butt and tip shallow kerr
nels, and failure to fill out" well at the
ends OF the ears. Others of importance
might be named. 1t will be seen that
there is much better opportunity of
getting what we want, as to some of
those named, by selection in the field
than at any other time, and of some no
judgement could be formed at any other
| time.
My own belief is that, with the Dent
varieties, almost universally grown in
the West, we have stalk, leaf and root
enough to produce more than one good
ear of corn, and that, if we persistently
selected with reference to the production
of, say, two ears, instead of constantly
selecting, in practice, from stalks pro-
ducing but one ear, We would make a
decided gain. Whether this be true or
not, there are abundant reasons for early
selection and from the field.
There is no necessity that corn design
ed for seed should fully mature on the
stalk. Experiments have shown appar-
ent strong vitality in kernels which were
shriveled up from the ears having been
plucked long before maturity. would
not advise this in practice, but there can
be no objection to plucking seed corn
some weeks before it would do to put in
the crib. The essentials in treatment Of
the corn seem to be that both kernels
and cob shall become pretty thoroughly
| dry before there is severe freezing. Fire
heat may be used to secure this, but is
usually not essential. The old plan Of
tracing up the ears, pair by pair, by the
husks, and hanging them up nj dry
warm room, will almost certainly give
good results. like better the use Of
the cork-screw wire, put in theI butt oil
each ear and slipped over a vertical
wire.
| This applies especially to the selection
and care of few bushels of corn by each
farmer for his own use. Where an at.
tempt is made to select and properly
care for hundreds of bushels for sale the
task is one Of considerable magnitude
l confess to partial failure in this last
season. Some corn to which apparently
oil needed care had been given proved
untrustworthy giving good results in
tests under favorable conditions, but
partially failing when planted in the
field. On the other hand, large guam
tity was entirely satisfactory.
In ordinary seasons there is no Difficult.
ty in getting seed that will grow from
any good crib. So I do not urge the
early selection chiefly on this ground
Maintaining the standard of excellence
already gained, or still further improv-
ing o variety, is the chief advantage.
| Of course, this is not all that can be
done to improve corn, and, equally, OF
course, fall selection of seed does not
make it needless to still further select
and make tests in the spring. have
simply suggested what any farmer may
do with profit and at little cost in time
or money.