The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1901-11-09
FARM r. a. / ! I IN D GA RDEN .
MAI TERs OF INTEREST TO AGRi-
u CULTURISTs. q
Some Up-to- Date Hints About Cniti-
ass vat, walton OF the Soil and Yields
M Thereof lHlorticuiture, yitiouiturre and
Z Horticulture. .s .s5f a N u II u . u

horticulture. VI sSsf}33 ~ il# q 1T. 5 n
III h Uniformity and Vitality OF seed Corn. Il
KID 4A. ,. Shamel, instructor in farm
crops at the University OF Illinois, has
the following to say about the uni
\ fi'ol'rnity and vitality Of seed corn:
niformity AS a rule little atten-
ton has been given to the character
OF the seed corn: little examination
/. has has been made Of the. proportion Of
1 corn corn to cob, of the purity Of color, the
space between rows, the filling out Of
ends, the length, circumference or
shape, or Of any OF the important
points that go to make UP good ear
OF corn. 1t has been found by seed
corn growers that the length, circum-
ference or shape of the, ear can be
varied at will by selection, and there
IS every reason to believe that these
characteristics can be so fixed that
I practically all of the ears in a field
grown from pedigreed, uniform seed
corn will be of approximately uniform
size and shape. further, it has been
found that the number Of rows Of kerr
nels on the cob, the film. out of the
ends, Or other characteristics, can. be
improved by planting from seed hav.
ing these characteristics It has been
demonstrated, that 1t is not good prac-
tlce to plant small kernels Of grain OF
any sort. Therefore, it is not good
pollcy to plant the tip kernels. AS the
quit kernels usually vary greatly in
Size from the kernels on the rest Of the
ear 1t is a good plan to shell off and
discard both the tips and butts of the
ears selected for seed. Again, as the
QUITS OF the ears mature first and the
UPS last, it is probable that these parts
nave been fertilized by pollen of an
early or late variety from some neigh
boring field: so by Smelling off the
QUITS and tips, part of the danger o;
mixed seed can be avoided. In general,
smell off the small and the extremely
large Kernels SO that the portion OF
the ear remaining for seed has kernels
OF approximately uniform size. With
most varieties of corn, about one-hal
inch OF butt kernels and one inch OF
tip kernels should usually be shelled
off.
Fltal1ty.-Owing to late spring or
early frosts, 1t frequently happens that
the seed corn does not fully mature.
IN this condition the ear is likely to
mold and decay, thus destroying the
vitality of the grain. AS the majority
OF farmers in Illinois allow the seed
corn to remain in the general crib
during the winter exposed to the sud-
den and violent changes in tempera-
lure, such corn. full Of moisture, will
freeze, and consequently the life of the
germ may be weakened or DESTROYED.
Inc seed corn in central Illinois, Sc
lected from the crop of 1898, was so
much injured in this way that the
university tests of the vitality of seed
corn sent in by farmers from this Sec
zion OF the state, gave an average of
only rs per cent terminating. Such
seed was not fit to plant but as no
provision had been made by the farm
ers for drying and properly preserving
seed corn, and as this was the only
seed available, it was planted with
resultant poor stand, light crop, and
loss Of profits.
Immature seed should not be planted
for several reasons: First, such kerr
nels do not contain as much plant food
as those which are fully developed,
and thus do not provide as much
nourishment for the young plants
which, consequently, do not get so
vigorous and healthy start as those
from mature seeds. Second, the ex-
cessive moisture in the immature seeds
renders them liable to begin to ger
inmate in the fall in the crib, and thus
use up part Of their strength; or q
sudden drop in temperature may freeze
the corn and destroy the life of the
seed.
Seed corn should test IS per cent vi
tality; i. e., Of the coed planted in the
seed bed IS per cent should grow. II
the seed does not give this test of
vitality, poor stand will be the re-
suit, Nor is it wise for the farmer to
try to make up for poor seed by plant
ing a greater number of grains, be-
cause Of seeds which give low test
Of vitality many of those which do
grow lack strength and vigor and will
consequently produce weak plants !.
Furthermore, an uneven stand will
surely result, some Hills being over
crowded Frequently with weak plants)
and other hills being left with per-
haps, no plants at all because Of the
unequal distribution OF the seed that
will germinate. Seed of low vitality
will inevitably tend to the production
of a poor crop. 1t is important, there
fore, that the farmer make test of
the vitality in order that he may
know the quality Of his seed, A most
simple, effective, and practical meth
cd Of testing the vitality Of seed corn
is as follows: Fill common dinner
plates nearly level full. CT fine sand,
pour water over the sand until It is
more than saturated, shake gently to
level the sand, allow it to settle, and
then drain off the surplus water. Push
so kernels into the sand in each plate,
turn smaller plate over the sand to-
EpreYent too rapid evaporation Of
moisture, and set both in a warm
place. Keep the sand moist and in