The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-11-03
HOLDEN ON SEED CORN
Famous Professor Gives Advice on
What to Do This Fall.

Prof. Holden, the Ames college spe-
cialist, who travelled W the state last
spring giving lectures on seed corn
selection and planting, has issued a
letter containing much valuable al
vice concerning the selection Of seed
corn, which is just now very timely.
Prof. Holden knows the science Of
seed selection and planting thorough
", and all farmers who want to i'm
prove their crops will give heed to his
advice which is as follows:
Replying to your questions of
Where and how to select seed corn
and where and how to store it," will
say that, owing to the cold season and
the extreme slowness with which corn
has matured this fall, the greatest
possible care should be exercised by
every farmer in the selecting and stor-
ing of his seed corn.
The most essential thing is to have
the seed thoroughly dry before the
bitter cold weather of November.
One Of the safest methods is to Sc
lect the seed corn from the earliest
planted field, not later than October
Is, taking the most mature ears. Tie
eight or ten ears together in a string
with binding Irvine, IT tie them IN
pairs by the husks, and hang on some
wires in an open shed where the sun
cannot shine on them, but where the
wind can have the best possible oppor-
tunity to blow through the ri and
dry it out thoroughly.
AS soon as dry and before any hard
freezes (about November 1 to 81 store
in some place where there is good cir
! culation of air and where it will be
somewhat protected from the severe
freezes during the months Of Novem.
| her and December, such as the attic
or furnace room. If you are certain
that the corn has thoroughly dried out
it might remain where it was hung in
the open shed all winter provided the
sparrows and the mice do not trouble
it and there should be no danger oil
injury from freezing. But in slow,
cold seasons like the past and the
present, or where the corn was 1ol
hung up before October Is, the only
safe thing to do is to take the corn
down and place it where it is protect
ed as stated above.
In a slow seaso the corn contains
much more moisture than is generally
supposed. Last fall, on October %,
5000 pounds of corn were placed in a
l aw;h oyJ noxrn hnnn xuafnhn1 On nn VIM az
since. 1t has now lost 1920 pounds,
or 81 per cent. 1t is impossible for
such corn to dry out sufficiently to
prevent its being weakened or killed
by the fall breezes.
Do not store seed corn over the
stable, as it will gather moisture.
Do not put freshly gathered seet
cor..in war ~reo~sy. II will either
fsprout or mold or both.
For the same reason do not leave II
in barrels and boxes or on the soutt
porch where the sun can shine on it
During the first two weeks after the
seed cor is harvested, while it is un,
der as nearly normal conditions OF
temperature as possible. After this
the drying may be FASTENED by plac,
ing in a warm but well ventilated
place.
Do not take any chances with the
seed corn.
Save two OF three times what you
will need for your own use. Your
neighbor may need vt next spring.
Last spring thousands of farmers
planted weakened seed. This, togeth.
err with the cold spring, gave poor
stands and necessitated much e.
planting. Over a thousand samples
Of corn were sent to the station to be
tested last spring. The tests showed
an average of Is per cent that would
not grow and 10 per cent more that
gave a weak termination and was not
fit to plant, leaving 60 per cent of
| strong seed.
PASSING OF LANCASTER.