The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-26
IONA EXPERIMENT STATION.
Selecting Seed Corn.

A few observations taken in the corn
belt will convince one that the shortage
in the corn crop this year cannot be
attributed entirely to the drouth and
dry weather. The use of poor seed has
added immensely to that loss. 1t is
true that we attribute our poor ''stand"
to unfavorable conditions at planting
time, but these very conditions suggest
the wisdom of using seed that will ger.
inmate one-hundred per cent even when
the soil is cold.
Preparations for good crop in 1902
should begin as soon as the growing
crop has matured Where only few
bushels of seed are to be saved, this
should be selected in the field before
the heavy frosts begin. Seed for high
ground should be selected from the
higher lands, While for the bottom lands
the seed should be taken from lower
soils. Ears should be chosen only from
such stalks as are of good size and al
SO bear the ear we'll up on the stalk.
AS to the best type of ear to choose,
there will be some variationsin varieties,
although on general principles ell vari-
cites that are worth preserving should
conform to Il certain standard In the
first place, it should be uniform IN color,
both grain and cob, which would indie
ate some tixedness in type and give at
least some assurance that the crop
grown from such seed would resemble
the parent, not only in color but in 9th.
er essentials. All ears chosen should be
well filled cut at butt and tip. Bare
tips indicate that the lower kernels on
the ear absorb nourishment that should
be distributed throughout the entire
length. OF course imperfect pollination
is sometimes the cause, but on general
principles such seed should be II iecled.
Perfect Filings at ends is more often
found where the ears are short and mis-
takes are easily made in this direction.
Nothing should be chosen that is short
er than nine inches, and ten or ten and
one-half is much to be perferred provid-
ing there is no deficiency in other re-
spects. The circumference should at
least be seven inches, or seven and one
half would be still better. The rows of
kernels should be numerous, straight
and well packed together. The kernels
sh ould he deep enough to yield SIS to 60
pound of shelled corn per bushel when
cured. An ear that will yield much 10 a
twisting pressure should he rejected.
Nothing should he saved for seed that
shows any tendency to revert to the
flint type. Any appearance of this re-
version is always plainly apparent in
the tip and butt kernels. Although
smaller, these kernels should show the
clearly defined dented character.
Where large quantity of seed is
| saved, it may be selected during the
husking season by placing such ears as
conform to high standard of perfection
in an apartment of the wagon designed
for that purpose. In either case, the
selection should be carefully made.
Seed corn should be stored where
freezing and thawing cannot take place.
1t is true that corn taken from the crib
will often grow we'll, but it has been
demonstrated beyond question that the
germ of such seed is always weakened to
some extent. If conditions should be
unfavorable after planting poorer
stand Is always the result when corn Of
this kind is planted. After spending
time in selecting seed, one cannot afford
to have his work undone by leaving it
exposed to our severe atmospheric con-
ditions.
JAS. ATKINSON.
Iowa Experiment Station.