The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-09-04

The question as 10 the proper time TO
save seed-corn Is one upon which there is
great diversity of opinion A large mum.
Der seem 10 be of the opinion that the seed
should be selected as soon as the grains are
glazed, and cured by drying in the air
Saving unripe corn-seed Is wrong, hoth In
theory aud fact Aside from the fact that
immature seed tends TO promote ealliness
In ripening there is nothing else TO sustain
the practice. In every plan, none but the
most fully.matured seed is proper for
planting,
Probably the reason why corn alone has
been made the exception to the rule is
from the fact that, while other cereal
grains became quite ripe and dry during
the warm season, corn alone often requires
artificial help to fully dry and harden 1t be-
fore winter sets in. SO common Is the
failure 10 get corn fully dry, as commonly
gathered and cribbed, that when shelled
and marketed before the warm weather of
the succeeding season, great difficulty Is
often experienced In preventing the grain
from heating. And in exporting corn across
the ocean IL is the exception, rather than
the rule, that II does not become more or
less bitter and otherwise damaged as food,
unless ki'n-dried. In fact, when saved In
the ordinary Western cribs, eight TO ten
feet wide, considerable percentage Is
dams ed during the winter and spring un-
less in exceptional seasons for ripening and
curing. So the failure of seed 10 grow,
when taken from the crib, Is well known
and of LATE years this has constantly been a
source of disappointment 10 the farmer
Yet the vitality of Indian corn Is fully as
great as that Of any other grain, II II be
comes fully ripe.
There Is only one sure way ~ have seed
corn every grain of which will grow and
which will mold its vitality intact through
out the winter. The ears must be fully
ripe, they must be fully dried out before
hard freezing weather, and they must be
kept thoroughly dry if exposed 10 cold dur
Ing the winter. If kept in an atmosphere
above the freezing point, with natural de
gree Of moisture or such as will be natur-
ally held when not kept In a warm, dry at
mosphere, so much the better
The Indian plan of saving seed corn is
undo ubtedly the best of any The finest
fully ripened ears are selected by the
squaws at husking time. Husk enough Is
gether 1t is strung over poles in the lodge,
nuu " hCu iuiiy
weather sets init is stacked in small pit
on a sandy ridge and covered secure from
wet during the winter. Food corn is saved
In the same way, except that 1t Is packed
away point down, after drying, with the
husks attached. Such corn if fully ripe is
also sure to grow.
The following excerpts from articles
lately published will show the idea held
not generally it is true-by portion of the
agricultural press. A writer says:
From experimenting we have found that
corn, if properly cared for, will grow when
il is we'll out of the milk, or when first IL
becomes glazed The kernals will, of
course, shrink in size, but IT will all grow
just as we'll as it would If fully matured
Another excerpt reads:
Ii is better to commence this work early
in the season than to wait until the corn is
fully matured before selecting the seed, be.
cause the earliest and best ears can then be
selected, and it is well demonstrated that
such seed will ripen earlier than that Sc.
lected later in the season.
Still another piece of advice is:
Every farmer should save his own seed
and not depend on his mel ghbor fort. The
best time to do this is in the early fall, just
as soon as the kernals are free from milk.
The error IN each of these tn. ee excerpts
is in advising 10 save seed from unripe
corn. There is no reason for 80 doing I'M
less frost touches the crop before the corn
is ripe, and this is a rare occurrence. When
so, it is far better to fall back on seed of
the preceding year that has been properly
saved. To have sure seed, select fully ripe
perfectly formed ears, either in the field or
at husking time, Thoroughly dry them by
braiding the husks together and hanging
them in any airy room, one where there
may be fire heat if necessary Or place the
ears on racks or Stats, where they may be
dried quickly. If fire is used few days
will 50 dry the corn that it may be put in a
narrow crib, if the moisture is fully elimi-
mated. Then the process may be repeated
until enough seed is secured for the next
season. Thus saved, il may cost 90 60, OF
20 cents per bushels, but il will be worth
far more than that, for every seed will not
only grow under proper conditions, but will
develop strong, healthy plant.-Chir"go
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