The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-09-16
Save Your seed Corn Now.

The selection of seed corn should
be made while the corn is standing
in the field. 1t is then that its pro-
gress in growth may be noted, as al
so its productiveness and adaptation
to the climate in which it is grown.
Seed corn should be selected from
special plants. The farmer should
inspect every portion of the field,
and mark the stalks containing the
ears desired. Only those who have
given this mode of selection their
attention are aware of the adyantag-
es of annually selecting the best ears
on well-grown stalks. A field of
corn in Nelson county, Va, ten
years ago. which was inspected by a
committee from Philadelphia, yield
ed at the rate of 160 bushels per
acre, the stalks containing from four
to seven ears each; and yet this had
been obtained simply by selection.
The corn had also been adapted to
the soil, and though giving such
good results in that locality proved
a failure elsewhere. The farmer had
variety of corn best suited to this
purpose, but which possessed no ad-
vantages to farmers in other sections.
which should convince those inter
ested of the importance of selecting
seed corn on the farm instead of de-
pending on others.
Prolific corn is not always desira-
BILE on some farms. Unless the soil
is fertile such corn will not fill up
in the ear as it should. The climate
and soil must correspond with the
quality of the corn in order to secure
satisfactory results, and hence it is
sometimes unwise to resort to new
varieties without testing them in a
few rows. One of the difficulties to
be encountered with seed corn is its
proper preservation through the
winter. DR. Sturtevant has given
much of his valuable time in expert
menting as to the best methods of
so doing, and is of the opinion that
no corn should be used for seed un-
less it has been thoroughly dried,
and if necessary, dried in the kiln.
The manner Of preservation of seed
seems to have strong influence upon
its vitality. Corn seed thoroughly
dried at temperature of from 20 to
so degrees terminates better than
seed not so carefully managed, but
it is better to dry the corn at 100 de-
grees, and keep it in some place of
even temperature and tree from
dampness.
Although corn will not ordinarily
germinate at lower temperature
than 4S0, according to experiments
made, yet, when dried at temper
ature of 1902, grains have germinat-
ed at 4l0, though slowly. The diff
ficulty in majority of cases is due
to the corn not being sufficiently
dried before being laid away for the
winter. When the selection is made
in the field, as it should be at this
season, the corn may easily be cur
ed by keeping it in a room contain
ing stove 1t should not be har-
vested, however, until fully matured,
and only the best formed ears chos-
en-. Should it be desired to change
the seed, as is often recommended,
do not discard the old variety, but
plant a few rows of some suitable
kind among the rows from the old
seed and let a cross be made by fer
tiiization, but care should be taken
not to make radical change. Cross
:he flint varieties with a flint variety
only, and under no condition mix
yellow and white corn. All that is
necessary is to grow and select your
own seedcorn. crossing it occasion
ally with the same kind ofcorn from
another farm, but it is not advisable
to procure seed from a distance un-
less certain it is suitable to your
soil and climate.