The Globe-republican., 1895-10-17

am as much believer in pedigree
seeds as 1 am in pedigree stock, and 1
see no reason why farmer cannot es-
tabiish and maintain a superior strain
of grain, just as well as lie can OF
stock. The breeder of stock who
would pay no attention to the mating
of his animals, and who, once in two
or three years, would change his stock,
could never attain to excellence and
establish a superior herd. l believe
that there is no other method by which
at so small a cost We can increase the
yield of our crops as by the careful
selection of seed. This process is much
easier with corn than with other
grains, because first, the proportion of
seed is so small that bushel of corn
under favorable conditions will pro-
duce 800 bushels or more. And then 1t
is easier to select ears of corn OF the
type desired than to select small grains.
All improvements must be the result
of careful and persistent selection; and
by this method we can establish al
most any type we desire. L was a
scotsman for over twenty years ana
learned much of the methods by which
new varieties are established. Once
found an ear of blOOdred sweet corn,
something l had never seen before.
Dlanted it where it could not mix, and
half the produce was white and the
other half every shade of red from the
deepest to a light pink. l kept Oh at
this selecting, gradually breeding out
the light color, and at the same time
establishing the form of ear and grain
1 desired, until, at the end. of six or
seven years, l had established a fixed
type and superior variety OF sweet
corn. Personally attend to the selec-
ton of your seed corn, fixing on a
standard and working UP to it. Make
the selection early i'm the fall before
there is a possibility of damage from
cold and cure thoroughly by fire heat
Always save more than you expect tC
need, so that in case of loss by frost
cut-wOrm or any cause you Will nave
enough to replant with. 1t is well II
use scales as you select and weigh ear:
frequently and occasionally shell n
ear and weigh the cob. 1t is easy II
establish variety that Will shell on
five or more pounds to the buShel thal
ordinary corn. Pat said, 1T Is no
the DlSSeSC Call tNdl udheS tHc ooS
veal,' and the scales will show tina
it is not the biggest ears that weiSl
the most I have no doubt that in
few years of careful selection OF See'
corn 20 per cent can be added to tn
Weld by this alone, and at no cost bu
a little care and cultivation. and tn
exercise of good judgment. The selec
ton and improvement of small grain
must be done by thorough cleaning
and by selecting your seed from tn
best portion of the field and goin
through and cutting out any rye, cheers
cookie or any other obnoxious plant;
1 have made it rule when l wishe
to test 4 new variety of small grain t
buy but a single bushel. If 1t prove
unsuited to the soil or climate this
more than enough, and if you decid
that it is an improvement you wi
have enough seed to SOW quite fielt
You cannot form Il safe judgment 4
to the merits of a new variety froi
one years test. AS conditions var
greatly, l would advise several year
test of a new variety before you di
carded one that has given satisfaction
There is no doubt that by thought IN
care all of our grains can be improves
but too many farmers fail to give thi
Waldo 4. Brown in Prairie Farmc