Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-03-15

of the most important things to be
considered in selecting a high yielding
seed ear. Experiments indicate that
shape, starchiness, and size of the
kernel as we'll as the character Of the
germ are of very great Importance in
determining whether the ear shall be
a high or a low yielder.
The vitality of the kernels on an
ear are OF course Of supreme import
ance, although this quality is deter
mined almost entirely by the manner
in which the corn is handled Much,
of course depends upon the season
also, as wet fall is always responsi.
BILE for a large amount OF corn OF low
vitality, partly on account OF the de-
cay which sets in when the ears are
not allowed to dry rapidly and partly
because the corn is rarely dry under
such conditions when the first severe
freeze comes. A we'll matured ear
picked early and thoroughly dried be-
| fore heavy freezing weather and prop
erly cared for thereafter will almost
| invariably be found to be of strong
vitality. An ear of corn dried early
and kept dry will stand almost any
amount of freezing, but the ear must
be dry. Ears in an open room, even
when once thoroughly dried, may alb
sorb sufficient water during damp
spell of weather to be injured by a
following freeze. Experiments by the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture and by various experiment sta
tions indicate very plainly the value
|of giving seed corn the proper care.
At our own station corn gathered from
the farmers cribs in the neighborhood
terminated under favorable conditions
only 634 per cent, after a very bad
winter, while our own seed, thor
oughly dried, terminated over 70 per
cent An experiment conducted by
the United States Department of Agri-
culture in Illinois showed that corn
kept in warm, dry room terminated
81 per cent in the spring after cold
winter: corn in a we'll aired room,
where the thermometer went consider
ably below zero, terminated SO per
cent, while corn in the crib germi-
mated but IS per cent. In another test
the increased yield of carefully kept
seed over crib kept seed was sixteen
bushels per acre under conditions that
were exactly similar The Nebraska
station reports termination of 80 per
cent from seed properly dried, against
70 per cent for seed kept in the crib,
while Of this 10 per cent many plants
were weak.
1t is usually possible to tell by a
simple examination whether or not
the kernels are of strong vitality. II
the germ is discolored, blistered,
wrinkled, or rougheneG near the point
it's vitality has usually been injured.
1t should besmooth, bright. clean and
when broken or cut across it should
show fresh, oily appearance. The
tip of the kernel adhering to the cob
indicates weakened vitality. 1t is
rot possible to be sure that any kern
ell will grow by casual examination,
however, as the freezing leaves little
to Indicate the damage it has done.
The size of the germ seems to be of
considerable Importance in indicating
the strength of the plant that will be
produced from kernel of corn, al
though evidence on this point is not
conclusive 1t must be borne in mind
however, that the germ that appears
largest on the exterior OF the kernel
may he shallow and not the heaviest
in weight although as a rule heavy
germ will be one which has a large
surface expansion.
Again, under favorable conditions it
would be expected that the score of
plant food surrounding the germ
would be of Importance. and with kerr
nels of equal size large germ would
mean less room for food storage. In
this connection certain experiments
conducted in our laboratories by Mr..
"A. E. Grantbam are of interest. The
plan of these experiments was to de-
termine if possible the relations which
size, weight and character Of both kerr
nels and germs bear to the rate and
strength of termination and to the
ultimate growth of the plant. 1t was
found that in every instance the large
germs made considerable more growth
in period of fourteen days than the
small germs, as is shown both in the
height of stalks and in the weight of
green matter produced, measuring
from two and one-half to three inches
higher and weighing from 40 to so per
cent more in green matter. Expert
ments at the Maryland station showed
practically the same thing Although
these experiments have not as yet
been carried to the field there is good
reason to believe that the stalks that
make an early thrifty growth will
stand much better chance of being
high producers than those which are
weaker at the start and all evidence
indicates that the corn plants which
grow steadily from the time they
come through the ground until they
have reached a full height are the
best yielders under average condi-
tions. Any condition, therefore, that
will cause a weak stalk, whether it be
injury by freezing, by rotting, or by an