The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-03-30
SELECTING SEED CORN.


That the average yield of corn to
the acre in Maryland is larger than
in the great corn growing States of
Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Ne
braska is perhaps not generally
known, even by our own people,
j yet that such in the case is shown
by the official figure of the United
States Government. According to
these, the average yield of corn to
the acre in Maryland for the year
| 1905 was 36.9 bushels. This was
81 bushels larger than the yield for
1904 and was still larger increase
lover the average for the 10 years
previous. This increase on each of
the 628, 795 acres planted in corn in
this state last year, amounts to
70, 200,783 bushels of corn which at
Scots. bushel, means that the
farmers of the State nave 81, 100,
391 more because of the better
crop.
This increase it is asserted by
agricultural experts, is largely due
to the better care in the selection
of seed, which was first systemat
ically practiced by Maryland
farmers last year. The seed corn
specials, which were run on some
of the railroads through the in
strumentality of Mr.. G. Bosley
Eittig, the Agricultural College,
and Experiment Station, were
brought directly home to a large
number of growers the almost
miraculous possibilities to be gain.
ed from planting none but tested
kernels, each of which could be re-
lied upon to produce strong, ear
bearing stalks, and many who did
not or could not attend the lecture
and demonstrations given on the
special trains had their interests
aroused through the press and
followed the methods advocated by
the experts. Tt is believed that
rhe scientific selection of seed will
be observed to even greater ex.
tent this year, with correspond.
ling increase in the yield. Advanc.
ed farmers assert that the ultimate
limit of production of the corn is
still far ahead, and that with care
full seed selection and intelligent
cultivation Maryland can astonish
the world with her production of
this important cereal.
| Every farmer who grows corn in
this state would find it profitable
to read bulletin No. II, of the Iowa
Experiment Station. Last year
Iowa Station secured 1000 samples
of the seed corn used by farmers in
THAT state. Many of the samples
twere taken from the planter boxes
In the field, and all of them repre-
lsented the actual corn planted.
The tests showed that 10 per cent
Of all this seed failed to sprout,
even under the most favorable con-
Editions. Twenty one per cent more
made weak sprouts which would
never have developed into vigorous
earbearing' stalks. Thus only so
per cent of the seed was fit to plant.
This means that the stand of corn
in the field was only about so per
cent of what it should have been.
The bulletin explains in detail a
simple method any farmer can use
lthat will enable him to pick out
only the good seed for planting,
thus ensuring practically perfect
stand of corn, if the planting is
carefully done. If every farmer in
the state of Maryland grew a per-
feet stand of corn the average yield
IF this important crop would prob
sbly be % per cent greater than it
is. When such results can be had
practically without expense with
one or two days work during the
latter part OF the winter when farm
work is slack, the farmer can not
afford to neglect it. 1t is certain
that the average farmer can in
crease his yield of corn 10 per cent
by properly selecting his seed.
This valuable bulletin can be had
| by addressing Prof. P. G. Holden,
| Ames, Iowa. There is yet time to
get the bulletin and select and test
seed corn before planting time.
We hope every farmer who reads
this may send for the bulletin, and
make use of the information it