The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-18
? Agricultural Department
CONDUCTED S.
S. WHITE.


planted by the modern corn planter and
the work is so simple as to need no de-
scripition here, only to say that all in
experienced hands should be made 10
fully understand all the workings of the
planter and check rowers before they are
permitted to take the planter to the field
Corn is more commonly planted in
check rows, three feet six or eight inches
each way and from one to three grains
to the hill.
In the corn belt of the north, usually
three grains to the hill is the rule, while
in sections OF the south only one stalk
is wanted in the hill at this distance,
and l have noticed fields in the south
where the rows were four feet wide, with
one stalk left every five feet. But such
sections figure very little in the make
up of our corn crop and are hardly worth
mentioning.
There are several other methods for
planting corn, one of which is to drill the
seed in rows from three to four feet,
leaving one stalk every twelve to fifteen
inches. AS a rule the drill corn will pro-
duce larger yield of corn of better
quality than can be produced in check
rows or where the corn is planted in
hills and two to three stalks left In the
hill. The thing to figure in this case is
the difference in cost of cultivation or
the soil before the seed is planted. l may
state here that all the premiums that L
have ever won on ears of corn, were
won by corn grown in drills and l may
state also that my crop of so bushels OF
corn grown in 1906 from which took the
five ears referred to above that won the
premium, was grown by the drill plan
and this plan l very much prefer where
my soil Is free from stumps and stones
and is level.
For my corn corp for the year 1901
l,ot a1eSQ
inches and have twenty rows TO the ear
and ears that fill the above requirements
in every detail. This is not all. | hold a
gold medal awarded to me BY the Co
lumbar exposition on my hne samples
of corn exhibited In Iowa L always got
my share of the premiums orered on
corn and now down in Missouri IN l9oo
when I made my first attempt at corn
growing in the state. when the corn show
came off in my town, where So was Of
fered for the best five ears, five ears or
my crop of so bushels per acre won the
prize So | think ] have some good eX-
cuse for writing on the subject OF corn
improvement.
Another thing. I find that by my selec-
tion of seed and breeding that can
keep up a variety Of corn almost in
definitely, provided, however, that I can
keep my neighbours corn out of my fields
On this point I want to say that |
would much rather have my neighbor'
scrub boar ram or bull, get into my
fields than this scrub corn to get In for,
can get clear of the scrub animal in
one termination, but it Will take years
to breed out the scrub corn.
Testing Seed Corn.
The testing of seed corn is very un-
satisfactory and is usually attended with
a great amount of uncertainty. Under
IT,, HOT
hot beds or in boxes that have been
specially prepared, we get corn to ger
inmate that would not If planted In the
open field. So as a rule the percentage
of grains that grow under these. fa-
vorable conditions is no criterion to go
by for determining what percentage VIII
grow in the open field. In fact, the up
to date farmers who select and save
their own seed corn, are never troubled
very much about testing their Seed For
my own part, when I can select and
care for my own seed corn, l pay no
attention whatever to the test question,
but can plant my corn With an apSo-
Lutte certainty that from 50 to 100 per
cent will grow. Where the farmer. is
buying seed corn from questionable
sources, or where corn even from the
best dealers has to be shipped long dis
tances In bags, 1t may be we'll to make
tests But even In such tests, the far
mer should be so well versed as to be
able to tell by the appearance or the
plants, whether or not the grains produc-
ing them would have been safe in the
open field Much depends upon the con-
dition that the soil is in when the seed
is planted as well as weather conditions
that follow the planting. AS to the per-
centage that grows, should the soil be
a heavy clay and week of cold rain
follow the planting. this condition would
toll 1xr 60 q
seed were covered deep. But where the
seed bed has been made fne and the seed
were planted at the proper depth. when
the soil is not too wet, and such plant
ings are followed by week of sunshine,
there should be no difficulty in securing
q stand of strong plants, especially II
such seed as recommended above Is
used
The ears, if the weather is favorable.
should be left to mature on the stalk.
Before gathering time go over the field.
picn off all the selected ears, leaving
the shuclx on them to tie them together
by and tie and hang the ears in dry
room on wire stretched overhead. If
stove could be placed in the room
and fire made during the damp weather,
this would be all the better. as damp
ness is what we have to or should pro-
vide against in saving seed corn. Where
such rooms are kept perfectly dry there
is not much danger of damage bv cold.
The corn should never he shelled until
time to plant. as the office of the cob
Is to keep moisture from the grain. Seed
planted at once when removed from the
cob will terminate quicker. give a
stronger plant and will grow off much
faster than plants will from weak seed
that has been shelled for sometime and
left in sacks or barrels in damp room.
When planting time arrives, take down
the seed and make a careful inspection
of each ear, for frequently defects will
have been developed in some of the ears
that we could not see In the fall, such
as soft cobs. that In undergoing drying
have become warped, leaving the rows
twisted around on the cob; or there may
be some fat or swelled butt end ears with
grains that are not exactly to our ideas,
so that perhaps as much as 10 per cent
of the fall selection may be deficient
In some one or more of these points
and so should be discarded.
Smelling the Ears.
When we have our ideal ears selected,
then shell off both ends. If the corn
has been bred up and well selected. an
inch off at each will answer. or bring us
to where the grains are of uniform size.
This is very important matter, for it
will frequently happen that an ill-shaped
grain from the butt end. If shelled and
put in the planter, will get cross-wise.
catch and hold the plate and hill may
be jumped. These grains often cost the
farmer from one to three, or, If a very
careless hand is on the planter even
more ears of good corn. This largely
accounts for so many missing hills in our
fields of corn. Another objection to the
on1 i1,e fe W.