The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-03-25

so that he may be able to find good seed corn on any and every acre of his corn, even though he had a thousand acres It may be well enough to change seed once in a while, and especially so where tho farmer may desire new sorts, which are constantly being developed. It may be better in some cases to cross these new sorts on his old standard varieties, but where the farmer has to buy seed corn he should demand that this seed be delivered to him in the ear instead of shelled
 Fraudulent Seed.
 great amount of the high priced seed corn as sold today all over this country is nothing more than ordinary elevator shelled corn and worth no more than a good sample of No. elevator stock. Only a few days ago I saw an advertise ment of a seedman offering a fine strain | of the Virginia ensilage corn. Being desirous of securing a sample Of this, l wrote to the man, stating that l wanted this sample for exhibition purposes. When l. came 1t was nothing more than ele- vator shelled. It was the worst stuff that l ever saw offered for sale for seed and I had to hand-plck 1t before could get a sample fit to use. It is high time for our farmers to protect them  and selecting their own seed corn or by demanding that the seed corn they buy be delivered to them in the ear so that they may have a chance to protect them selves.
 This. I supose Is or should be one of the main objects and purposes of the seed corn breeders associations. There Is, no doubt. great room for improving our soil and seed corn so as to greatly | iro ha inIJ nf growing all over the country. Some of our leading corn producing states, by rayng attention to these matters have added millions to the value of their corn crops
 We need good corn growers associa- ton in Alabama, as well as in other states.
 Cultivation of Corn.
 This, too, is an important matter and often determines the profits of the crop. Where the seed bed has been prepared as here outlined the crop should be half made when planted. All deep blowing should be done before the crop is planted. after which only shallow cultivation will be needed. The first blowing of the corn before the side feeding roots are formed may be deeper than any of the later cul- tivations.
 One of the greatest advantages to be obtained by cultivatng before planting is that the work may be done so much faster. better and cheaper. l always manage my seed bed preparation so that l regard my corn crop more than half made when planted.
 With the proper preparation of the seed bed, one can harrow the soil before the corn is up, then harrow the young corn once, after which the cultivation may commence. Where the soil has had this thorough work 1t will hurry farmer to blow his corn once a week for thee weeks before it becomes too large. to blow. Where the seed bed has been prepared as 1t should be before planting and this surface fined. the roots of the corn will always be as long. if not longer, than the blades on the stalk.
 So it is to be hoped that the great state of Alabama will take up this mat ter, organize state corn growers asso- citation and extend this practical teaching into every school district where the most people may be reached and the most good accomplished. What Is needed Is plain. practical teaching from men of practical experience. We have had too much of this college theory on the corn question.