Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-08-19
srsn CORN SELECTION.
s,I,shod Methods Adopted by LArgs
Majority at Agrlculturists

WAYS make II RUE 10 Ealse u ~ ~
pretty good evidence of farmers
slackncss when he depends on his
neichbors for his seed corn. II no has
a kind that suits him why can't he savo
his own seed quite "a well rs his neigh
bors can save il for him7 II he savesis
himself he knows just what he has got,
and he will never miss the time in
doing it
To say that corn win run ont after
being raised on the same farm for
number OF years, and must be changed
to keep up the quality and yield. is to
admit want of enterprise and slack
ness in the farmer, 1t is the easiest
thinc in the world to have good corn
ihat will grow every time. and nothing
nav. better for time thus spent, for
puny corn plants will never mako
vigorous growth aud large yield, al.
though it has good ground and good
culture.
Crbbed corn that has been subject
to freezing all winter Is very uncertain.
and If it comes up at all Il will never
make so vigorous agrowth as corn that
never has been frozen.
Instead of running out as some claim.
corn can be made TO improve from year
TO wear on the same ground, aS | know
by many years OF experience and OBJ
seryatjon in raising and saving my own
corn for seed. There have been many
foolish notions advanced about saving
seed corn. that won't hold water. that
require considerable time aud put,cr-
inc. aud the corn is not rs good ~ when
saved by more simple and quicker
process. The easiest way is the best
for saving seed corn. some 30 around
the field before the corn is cut and pick
out the ear, that r,pcn first. and claim
by So loins they ct the bcSi-maturcd
corn, and If this practice is kept up
from wear to year, not only the quality
and yield can be- improved. but an
earlier kind OF corn can be- established.
Now what is the use OF going To al
this trouble. that takes years To Get an
earlier kind of corn? Why not get IA
good Kind that is already early? Aud
as for getting the best in the field by
going around like an old coon before
the corn Is cut, you can't do it. OBJ
scration for many years shows that
the best ears do not ripcn first When
wet weather comes on corn sometimes
blasts aud dies all OF a sudden. and
does not fully mature, and this i taken
for ripe corn when in fact it is nothing
bus dead corn and the poorest in tho
field for seed. for il is never sound and
hard but light and chatly This way
Of saving seed corn had better be
abandoned and a more sensible way
adopted.
Another way of saving seed is while
hu,king. and coming across u good
ear leave some husks on il and
then go around and gather up and
braid the husks OF several ears togeth-
er. and when YOU get enough climb up
into the peak of the barn on long
ladder and hang ii up there between
the heavens aud the earth until plant
Ing time comes. aud then make anOth-
or ascension for your seed corn, always
provided you did not break your neck
on the first trip.
Now this mode of saving seed corn
is not practicable aud had better be
abandoned; it not only endangcrs lifo'
and limb. but wastes much time in 10.
Ing little work.
Another way TO save seed corn. and
the most uncertain OF all aud most
commonly practiced. is to 20 to tho
crib when you are ready TO plant and
pick out the big ears, but ii your corn
is not quite " good As your neighbours,
then exchange corn with him, and in
his way your seed don't cost any
more than he sells his corn for. aud
after YOU have got into his crib and
krked and paved his corn over and
made ii look like as though hog had
been in the crib (and il don't lack
much of I'D you so away congratulate
ing yourself that YOU have got your
seed corn cheap; what is the use Of
saving seed corn in the fall when YOU
can crawl into your neighbor's crib in
the spring and pick his best corn and
give him some in return not quite as
good? This way Of getting seed corn
is not TO be commented. for il will not
make you love your ncighbors as you
are commanded TO do, and corn thus
saved for seed will not grow more
than half the time. nj least.
Now | have way of saving seed
corn that | have practiccd for fourteen
or fifteen years, and have never failed
TO have seed that every kernel would
grow and at the same time have great
" improved my corn, the cob being
smaller and the kernel larger When
husking we always throw the corn on
the ground before hauling. then 30
around with basket, while every ear
is in sight, and YOU get the best ears in
the held with very little trouble. Put
it upstairs in the house where it never
freezes, and it will soon dry out. In
this way you can improve your corn
from year to year and always have
sure seed. Now don't you forget it
Cor. Ohio Farmer.
A common mistake. in setting out
ornamental trees on new places, is in
placing them too near together. This