Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-10-24
The Kind of Corn to Select, and Why

While there is considerable differ
ence in opinion on this subject, corn
growers are practically united on the
really essential points, and such
differences as do exist seem to be
largely dependent upon cores
ponding difference in the climate,
soil, methods of cultivation, ETC., and
SO long as we can agree on the vital
questions these minor points in
question may be settled by in
dlvldual circumstances and environ
ment. To illustrate, the corn grow
er Of northern Iowa and the corn
grower of central Missouri could
never get together on standard for
size of ear and depth of grain, and
yet.they can follow similar methods
of selection and select ears Of a
similar type, though each man must
Judge for himself as to the size of
car which is best adapted to his own
locality. So in reading the follow
ing, please remember that it is
written, not with the idea of setting
a uniform standard orarbitrary rule
for all sections, but rather to give
some general hints which corn grow
ers in all sections can use to adj
vantage. One Of the things which
detracts very largely from the value
OF our corn crop is its lack of uni
formity, as this defect makes it a
grade lower on the market and also
greatly reduces the yield, as we
shall show later on. If corn grow
ers could beeducated to follow more
uniform system OF seed selection
such difficulties would be largely
overcome. In selecting seed ears
one Of the first points which catches
the eye is the shape of the ear. The
shape mostly preferred is the cylin-
drical, and to date all trials seem to
prove this shape more profitable than
the tapering ear. Avoid especially
the slender ear. Along, slender ear
is much like a gaunt, long-bodied
draft horse. They possess plenty of
length, and often appear adapted to
give good service, but when we set
them to work in the field we find
that they are lacking in stamina,
and are usually a source of loss
rather than profit. Another point
which should receive careful atten-
tion is the filling of the tip portion
of the ear. Experience has proven
that poorly filled, tapering ear is
almost certain to produce ears fully
as bad and often worse in this re-
spect. See that the tip is blunt,
with reasonably deep kernels, set on
in straight rows. A nicely-flled tip
tends to increase the beauty Of the
ear and to add to its shelling
percentage, and both Of these. points
have a practical value. The butt of
the ear should be well filled out
over the shank.
Avoid, especially, ears with large,
irregular grains near the butt, and
ears which are much larger at the
butt than at the middle. The ear
which will give best satisfaction is
the ear which is of practically uni
form circumference down to within
two inches of the tip. Notice the
size Of the cob at butt, where it is
joined to shank. A wide faring at
tachment makes the ear hard to
break of, and counts for much in
husking.
And now we come to the point
which causes us, perhaps, more
trouble than any other, and that is
the size and shape Of grain. When
we get an ear which seems practical
ly perfect in outward appearance it
is often necessary to discard it be-
cause it has irregular or badly-form
ed kernels. While we have machines
which are fairly successful in taking
out the most irregular grains, we
cannot take from the remaining
grains their tendency to reproduce
irregular grains, so the only thing
to do is to throw out all the grains
from such ears. The grower must
understand that he must select ears
with regular, uniform kernels that
will enable the planter to do good
job of dropping, thus assuring uni
form stand. Aside from the question
Of vitality, which we will not discuss
here, this is the factor which most
largely determines the value of the
corn for seed. Could we trace the
cause of the prevalent poor stands of
corn we would find that imperfect
planting had much to do with lower
ing the per cent Of stand. l repeat
and emphasize this point, that we
cannot give too much attention to