The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-09-17
sEleCTINo SEED CuRM.
lt should he Done Whlle the Eaxs Are
stSll on the Stalk.

80 F17fl
Il should Ne Done while the EaRs Are
sttil on the Stalk.
Before the corn crop Is cut up or
gathered from the stalk, q day or two
should be spent in the field selecting
seed corn for the next years crop. A
man who grows forty acres of corn can
hardly use day to better financial pur-
pose than by spending it in the field Sc
lecting seed. The selecting should be
done while the ears are still on the
stalks, and they are yet green. This is
necessary. that the character of the
stalks, as well as the ears, be observed.
Any one who has been in a corn field
knows how the stalks vary; some are
large, some small, some short, some
tall, some two, three or more ears, and
many have none. This last class Of
stalks should not be allowed to exist in
q field from which seed corn is to be Sc
lected, for the pollen from them fertil-
ICES other ear-bcaring stalks.
As the grain is the object sought in
raising a corn crop, the selections
should be from those stalks bearing the
largest proportion of this to stalk. A
little investigation in the field will show
that the largest and best ears are not.
as rule, produced on the largest and
tallest stalks, but rather on medium
sized. shorter ones. twill be observed,
too, that unless affected by disease or
insects, the medium sized stalks, bear
ing the best ears. are the first to ripen.
The growth of such has been more con-
tinuous through the season, and have
been able to mature their seed more
quickly and perfectly. Size, then, of
stalks and time of ripening are two
points to be observed in selecting seed
corn, and it is obvious that these can
only be considered while the corn is yet
standing and somewhat green.
After noting the character of the
stalks, then that of the ears must be
looked to closely. The attachment lof
the ear to the stalk and the character of
the husk, are points worth considering.
Any one who has gathered corn knows
how much easier and faster certain
kinds can be gathered than others, sole
" because of the difference in this re-
gard.
Then the size and character of the ear
must be considered. The model ear is
the one having a small cob, deep grains
set closely with the tops of the kernels
square, SO there will be as little vacant
space as possible between the rows.
Rows should he straight, and the ear
preserve a nearly equal size from butt
to tip.
AS the selecting for all the points
named above can best be done while
the corn is yet somewhat green, rather
than the picking of the ears from the
stalk, we prefer the plan adopted by
Prof. Sanburn at the Missouri Agricul-
tural College. The stalks on which the Sc
lected ears are borne, are cut. carried out
to the edge of the field and put in very
small shocks until thoroughly dried,
when the corn is husked out and housed.
The place of storage should be dry and
have an even temperature, and be free
from rats and mice.
All this care a,,i work may seem USE
less and foolish to many, but we are
convinced that for a man growing forty
acres of corn, day spent thus will in
crease his crop at least fifty bushels. and
probably twice Cotnan's Rural
World,