The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1888-06-30
GROWING SEED CORN.

How to Insure improvement in the Yield
and Quality OF the Crops.
Would it not be good plan for each
farmer to select from the seed corn to
be grown the coming season the very
best and prepare in the best manner
sufficient portion of the best ground to
grow seed for the succeeding seasons
crop? Plow this portion extra deep.
making narrow burrows SO as to break
up the soil and make it fine; harrow
sufficiently to put it in the best possible
condition. then plant in rows of the
usual distance apart, making the hills
three to three and half feet apart. and
allow but one stalk to grow in place.
This will give sufficient room to each
stalk to make the best growth; the ears
on such stalks will attain the greatest
amount of vitality for seed purposes.
In this way the corn plant may be
greatly improved from year to year.
and the seed will produce an increased
yield of crop each season.
These wide spaces between the stalks
will admit the suns heat aud light and
will afford best facilities for the deposit
of plant food by the air-the great
reservoir Of fertility" If the ground
has been plowed deep and well pre-.
pared before planting. and the cultiva-
ton is begun as soon as the plant can
be seen. and continued at least once
each week until the grains of the ears
begin to harden. the greatest possible
amount of plant food will be secured
for the use of the crop both from the
surrounding atmosphere and from
great depths in the earth, while tlne
needed moisture will in this way be
kept up so that in either wet season
or during protracred droughts. the
most favorable conditions are supplied
for the most perfect growth and devel-
opment of the plants and the seeds
borne by them.
For large growing varieties four feet
apart both ways would most likely give
the best results for seed purposes
Varieties that grow small stalk may
be grown three or four feet apart. lie
main thing is to give ample room to
each stalk to make the best growth and
yet be close enough to each other to
favor fertilization. The greatest dis
lance between stalks. and not interfere
with perfect fertilization, is desirable.
Certainly no objection can be offered
against growing seed in such way as
to afford the best facilities for making
the best growth. By giving wide spaces
the tendency to make heavy low stall
| will be much favored. and such stalks
are much to be preferred to those tha
grow tall and spindling.
Farmers would do well to give greater
care to the production of good seed fo
all crops. The influence Of seed owe
the general yield and quality of crop
has very much to do in deciding wheth
err the crop shall be a failure in part o
whether it shall be such rs to compen
safe for all the labor and expense in it
production and leave a margin TO
profit The ordinary manner Of saw
ing seed for small grain crops is no
such rs to secure the best, the practic
being to take seed from the bin wher
large amount is stored. and which ]
liable to become overheated. or musty
thus impairing its vitality for seed pur
poses. Extra care and attention il
growing seeds of small grain crop
would insure better yields and woul'
result in continued improvement eacl
season both in yield and quality. --1
s. Tse0a,dssb IN Ohio Farmer