Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1904-09-09
agricultural.
Selecting Seed Corn in the Field.

Probably no farm operation is oil
greater importance than the early Sc
lection of seed corn This is notably
important, during a season when th,
corn crop is late and there is danger Of
injury from frost. This present season
is no exception to the rule. In fact
many farmers find that the corn il
greener than it should be at this timt
Of the year, and that if early FROST
come, seed will be liz danger.
While the man who raises corn largely
for seed cannot do much, but depend
upon the weather, the average farmer
can secure enough for his own use with
out great difficulty. As soon as thu
husks begin to dry up be should g.
through the field and select the besl
formed ears, planning of course, to get
those of good size. While it may moi
be the best policy to select the big ears
the aim should be to get those which
are above medium. Do not gather thi.
corn before it is out Of the milk stage
While seed may grow if gathered thus
green it is much better to wait until il
is fully ripened. There is little danger
Of frosts severe enough to injure the
germ inside of the husks until quite
late in the season. The more seed that
can be selected in this way the better
For almost every year the man who has
seed showing high termination test
can readily sell what he does not need
himself. At any rate, every farmer
with 100 acres of land should gather
at least ten bushels in this manner and
if he can select 80, 40 or even so he
will find it very profitable.
As soon as the seed is taken from the
Geld it should be piled on racks or
spread over floor in the attic or the
NOW of a barn. One ear should not be
piled upon another. 10 other words,
the ears Of corn should not be piled
more than one deep, whether on the
rack or on the floor. Good ventilation
must be given room 10 which this
corn is placed to dry.
After it is thoroughly air dried there
will be little danger of injury from
frost during the winter. 1t is we'll,
however, TO keep close watch on the
seed corn and should there be any pros.
pect Of it becoming damp or injured
during the winter, place an oil stove or
q small heater of some kind in the room.
A very small flame will do much to
drive out all moisture and make it i'm
possible for freezing weather to do any
damage.
The next best method Of drying corn
in small way is to place a box or a
barrel in one end Of the wagon at husk-
ing time. especially at the very begin.
ming of the husking operation, then if
the husker will throw into the barrel the
best ears as he comes to them, fine
lot Of seed will be available at tho end
Of the FIRST two or three weeks
This, of course, should be resorted to
at unloading time and only the best ears
retained. These ears should be then
placed on racks or on floors and should
be dried as noted above. The selecting
Of seed corn by this method will be quite
satisfactory, but Of course there is little |
more danger Of it being injured by frost
than if the farmer goes through the field
before the corn is ripe enough for husk-
ing.
As these pages have so often stated,
only few of our best farmers realize
the absolute necessity Of great care in
selecting and improving seed. Too of.on
this operation is neglected and seed is
only thought of in the spring after the
corn has stood in all kinds of cribs and
has been exposed to oil kinds Of weather.
1t is then too late to make a very careful
or skillful selection. and as result the
quality of the crop deteriorates rather
than improves, as it certainly should.
Only recently grain dealers have be-
come interested in farm seeds and have
asked local elevators to assist farmers in
securing better seed. This will in time
raise the quality Of the crop all around
American Agriculturist.