Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-02-02
Plant Seed Corn From Large
Germs,

Every man who has thought about
five minutes would expect the corn
grains with large germs to throw up
stronger and more vigorous plants
than those with small germs. The
Michigan Experiment Station has re-
Gently published Bulletin No. l06,
giving the results of experiments con-
Quoted last winter for the purpose of
discriminating two points-the intlu-
cnce of the size of the grain and OF
the germ of corn upon the young
plant.
The results with regard to the size
of the germ are what might have
been expected, viz, that the germ.
mating properties Of the kernels con-
tanning different sizes of germs may
be equal: that is, one may grow quite
as quickly as the other.
Second, that as the plants grow
larger, the hardest and most vigor-
Gus plants come from the kernels with
the largest germs Why should they
not? This is what any thinking man
would expect, the reason being that
the large germs are the best nouriSh
ed and under similar conditions grow
the fastest.
Third, that the plants from kernels
with the largest germs withstand
drouth better, and for the same rea
son given above, namely, that they
are best nourished.
The experiments to determine il
the size of kernels, as determined by
he weight, have any effect on the
vigor of the plan show:
FirSt-The heaviest grains do not
necessarily have the best germinat
ing qualities.
Second Plants from the heaviest
grains attain the greatest height
when supplied with moisture, but
this need not hold true in time OF
drOuth.
Third-Plants from the highest
bred seed hold their vigor etter thar
others during drOuth.
FOurth-The heaviest grains do not
necessarily revive most quickly after
moisture has been supplied succeed
ing a drouth.
1t should be stated that the expert.
ments were conducted in hot houses
where the moisture supply could be
controlled and were subject to periods
Of drouth for the purpose Of deter
minating the yigOr of the plants.
Our readers will see from the above
that there are a good many more
things about selecting seed corn thar
the size or uniformity or trueness tt
type. The size of the germ is Otter
more important than the size of the
grains Therefore, in selecting youl
seed corn for next years growing, be
sure you have plenty OF good, SOUND
terminating to select from. Do not
determine to plant an ear until you
have made careful examination OF
the size of the germs: throw out the
small germs; plant only the large
ones, and this for two reasons: That
by this method you will secure a more
vigorous growth, greater resistance tt
hardships, whether of drouth or o
wet or cold weather. which frequent
ly occurs when the corn is sprouting
or while it is coming up; and beside!
you will have type of corn of greater
value because the germ contains {
very large percentage of the proteir
and an unusually large proportion o
| the fat.
This may seem to some of our read
ers some of the fine points in breed
ing corn, but if fine, they are nom
the less essential. We shall never ge
the best results from the seed corr
Investigations and experiments unit
we get down to these finer points.
The reader will notice in the abov
that the best results came from tn
best bred corn without reference t
size of the grains. The experiment
we're made to test the value of breed
ing as well as the size of the kernels
and the size of the germs. Wallaces
Farmer.