Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-18
Conclusions Drawn from the
Experiments Made at Ex-
pertinent Station at Ames
SEED CORN MUST BE WELL DRIED
Purchasing, Storing and Testing Corn
to be Used for Seed, as to Securing
Best Quality and That Giving Lare-
est Yield Per Acre = Very few Ideal
Ears Obtainabe.
to Times Republican.

lar on storing and purchasing seed corn,
which has Just been issued by the divis-
ion of agronomy of the Iowa State Col
lege for free distribution, will be of no
small amount of interest to the farmers
of the state.
Owing to the extremely wet season,
followed in many sections by an early
frost, the problem of seed corn for 1908
is of unusual Importance. Those who
save seed corn from their own fields
should take unusual precautions to
thoroughly dry ana store in a well VEN
tilated place.
Storing Seed Corn.
There are many different methods OF
storing seed corn, but the experiments
which have been conducted by the ex-
pertinent station indicated:
1st. That it is not advisable to har-
vest immature corn and place 1t In a
warm room, as there is danger that the
corn will begin to terminate as result
of the moisture and warmth.
End. That corn intended for seed
should be allowed to thoroughly mature
on the stalk or in the shock before
huslSing.
Sd. That the best results are obtained
ventilated place.
4th. That cold does not injure the Vi
tally of the corn when 1t is thoroughly
dried and kept dry, but on the other
hand, if allowed to gather moisture,
freezing will reduce the vitality and
may destroy it entirely.
5th. That it is unwise to store seed
corn in barrels or boxes, as it will gath
err moisture. Corn often contains
great deal of moisture, even tho it APP
pears to be thoroughly dry. This is es-
pecially true during the fall and early
winter months
The one thing that seems to be the
most essential in the storing of seed
corn is thorough ventilation.
Purchasing Seed Corn.
The injury to the corn crop by frost
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 at the experiment
station requesting information regard
ing the purchase of seed corn. 1t is a
significant 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 these
farmers bought shelled seed corn. This
year the demand is that seed be shipped
in the ear. Their action is not a fad,
but is based upon the fact that when
the corn reaches them in the ear oppor-
tunity is afforded for a careful study of
the uniformity Of shape, size and color
of the ears and kernels, The freedom
from mixture and the validity.
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 unit in corn production,
and therefore that seed is the best
which gives the largest yield per acre
Carefully selected seed of pure breed
varieties gives the largest yield. 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 SO or
81 for bushel of seed corn which will
terminate well, and insure an even
stand and large yield, than to accept
an inferior grade, even tho the first cost
be exceedingly low. Purchasing seed
corn in the ear offers the farmer the
surest and safest way to secure seed
which will prove satisfactory
Tyo,.A ~ rS,,, ~
among corn breeders and seedsmen has
been send out to farmers shelled corn.
This method of handling seed corn can
never in any adequate way really help
the corn growers of the state to i'm
prove their corn. This is true because
much of this corn has been indiscrim-
inately purchased from farmers who
have paid no attention to the selection
and breeding of the corn. For this rea-
son this seed corn has often proved no
better, If as good as that which the
farmer himself has been growing in
years past.
Seed Corn in the Ear.
marked advance will be made in
the Improvement of the quality and
yield of corn in Iowa when our farmers
realize the Importance of purchasing
seed corn only in the ear.
The following facts are offered as ey
idence that the custom of purchasing
shelled corn is unwise and detrimental
to the best interests of Iowa corn
growers:
When the corn is in the ear the far
mer can see just what he has. If. after
a critical examination, he is confident
that the corn is unsatisfactory, he can
reject it and return it at once. This
plan will enable him to secure corn
from another source or use his own
seed, which, in fact, may be superior to
that which has been shipped to him.
He will not lose year in discovering
that he has an undesirable type of corn.
The corn grower seldom buys seed corn
for his entire acreage, and therefore ii
is possible for him to select, from the
few bushels which he has purchased,
the best ears in the entire shipment
II these ears have been selected with
care and are of a desirable type as to
size, shape, market condition and char
acter of the kernel, they should he
planted on one side of the field. where
the conditions are the most favorable
Thus limited area is grown from the
best seed. This portion of the field
should yield superior corn for seed for
his future crops. When this plan of
selection Is repeated year after year.
corn is grown which Is well adapted to
the latitude and condition in which it is
raised
Corn in the ear also, is the farmers
t. ] a