The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-08-24
SEED CORN.
Cnrc In Wlnfer-Not Advigable t.
She'll 1t Until Spring.

I
The matter of preserving seed corn
during the winter is neglected by too
many farmers In the corn belt. AS a
consequence seed corn next spring Will
either fail to germinate, making re
planting necessary. or have such low
vitality that il is almost impossible to
get stand il weather conditions are
not perfect Even If the corn does come
I'd we'll the plant will be feeble, will
start slowly and will not produce rs
large an ear as stalk from vigorous
seed.
By this time the corn has been all
gathered and it is presumed the cars
Intended for seed selected. This may
have been done ut husking time or the
grower may have gone through the
field earlier 10 the season, choosing the
largest and best developed cars. The
care of the seed corn from now on is
very important, says Orange JUDI
Farmer in giving the following hints
as to what this should be. In the first
place, see that it is not thrown in
pile. If this is done. it will not dry CIT
thoroughly and uniformly, and In spite
Of every prccautiOn enough moisture
will remain either in the cob or In the
grains to work great Injury when the
coolest weather of winter comes.
Where small quantity of seed only Is
desired the ears may be hung UP to
rafters in outbuildings or may be
spread over the attic floor one ear 'ccp.
The stora &c place must he kept as free
from dampness as Is possible to make
il. If it is in Il room through which Il
chimney or stovepipe passes. the condi-
tons are almost ideal, provided proper
ventilation is given. 1t can remain in
Il place like this all winter if care Is
taken to keep ont rats and mice.
great many farmers hang up the seed
corn by leaving a few husks on at
gathering time. This of course can
only be done if seed Is wanted for the
home farm.
Where corn is grown for seed on
commercial basis the same precautions
must be exercised in drying. If space
is not available for spreading 1t out on
a dry floor. put 1t in small crates hold
ing not more than buShel and with at
least one inch of space between the
stats. Put these on racks under shed
where there is n free circulation o. air.
If the season is dry, there will be no
trouble in curing this seed corn per-
fectly, but if it is damp a greater part
Of the time before cold weather sets in,
1t will pay to place the crates In
room where artificial heat can be used
for drying. A large stove in Il granary
or workshop will furnish enough heat
to dry out several hundreds Of bushels
at q time. as soon as the moisture has
been removed the corn can be placed
in granaly or under shed, still keep
ing it In the crates. and fresh supply
put into the drying house.
Many seed growers not only dry their
corn thoroughly in the fall, but store 1t
where the temperature will not get
much below the freezing point during
the entire winter. The garnet OF II
large house will answer well enough
and some growers have even used
dry cellar. claiming that the seed kept
there had a high terminating power.
Laying on a board floor is usually OBJ
jected to, unless it happens to be the
floor of an attic which Is always dry.
1t is not advisable to shell seed corn
until it is needed in spring.