Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-12-24
Storing and Purchasing Seed Corn.

n.
-St. Joseph Gazette.
Storing and Purchasing Seed Corn.
Owing to the extreme wet season fol.
lowed In many sections by an early frost
the problem of seed corn for 1903 is of
unusual Importance. Those who saved
seed corn from their own fields should
take, unusual precautions to thorough
ly dry and store in we'll ventilated
place.
There are many different methods of
storing seed corn, but the experiments
which have been conducted by the ex-
pertinent Station Indicate:
lst That it is not advisable to har-
vest Immature corn and place In a
warm room, as there is danger that the
corn will begin to germinate as result
of the moisture and warmth.
End That corn intended for. seed
should be allowed to thoroughly mature
on the stock or in the shock before
husking.
Bird That the best results are obtain
ed when stored IN dry and thoroughly
ventilated place.
4th That cold does not injure the
vitality of corn when it is thoroughly
dtied and kept dry, but on the other
hand if allowed to gather moisture,
freezing will reduce the vitality and
may destroy it entirely.
9th That 1t is unwise to store seed
corn in barrels or boxes, as it will gath
er moisture. Corn often contains a
great se! OF iloisture, even though it
appears to be thoroughly dry. This is
especially true during -ae fall and early
winter months.
The one thing that seems to be the
most essential In the storing of seed corn.
is thorou III ventilation.
The injury by frost to the corn crop
will make 1t necessary for many farm
ers, who in previous years have saved
their seed corn from their own fields, to
purchase their seed this year from
seedsmen or seed corn breeders.
AT this early date many inquiries have
been received by the Experiment Station
requesting information regarding the
purchase of seed corn. 1t is eigniH.
cant fact and worthy of special note,
that almost every inquirer has stated
that he desired to secure his corn in
the ear. Disappointment and loss have
often been the result when farmers
bought shelled seed corn This year
they demand that seed be shipped.in
the ear. Their action is not fad, but
is based upon the fact that when the
corn reaches them in the ear, opportuni-
ty Is afforded for careful study OF the
uniformity of shape, size and color of
the ears and of kernels, the freedom
from mixture and the vitality.
In securing seed the factor of the
greatest Importance is the purchase of
that corn which will give the largest
yield per acre and of the best quality
The acre is the unite in corn production
and therefore that seed is the best which
gives the largest yield per acre. Care.
fully selected seed of purs bred variet.
les gives the largest yields. Hence, the
important question for the farmer who
must purchase seed corn this year is
not one of cost, but of quality. 1t will
prove far more profitable to pay three OF
four dollars for bushel of seed corr
which will germinate we'll, and insure
an even stand and large yield, thar
to accept an inferior grade, even though
the first cost be exceedingly low. Pur
chasing seed corn in the ear offers tn,
| farmer the surest and safest way t.
secure seed which will prove satisfac
tory.
Heretofore the common pra ctic,
4 among corn breeders and seedsme1
has been to send out to farmers shellet
corn. This method of handling seet
i corn can never, in any adequate way
really help the corn growers of the state
to improve their corn. This is true be
cause much of this corn has been in
discriminatory purchased from farmer
who have paid no attention to the selec
tion and breeding of the corn. Fo
this reason this seed often proves n,
better, if as good, as that which tn,
farmer himself has been growing II
years past.
a marked advance will be made il
the Improvement of the quality ant
yield of corn in Iowa when our farmer
realize the Importance of purchasin,
seed corn only in the ear.
The following facts are offered a
evidence that the custom of purchas
ing shelled corn is unwise and detri
mental to the best interests of low,
corn growers:
| When the corn is In the ear the farm
er can see just what he has. If, afte
a critical examination he is confiden
that the corn is unsatisfactory he ca,
reject it and return 1t at once. Tni
plan will enable him to secure cor,
from another source or use his owl
seed, which in fact may be superior t