The Garland globe. [volume] (Garland, Utah) 1906-191?, 1907-03-23
SELECTING SEED CORN.
Care Should Be Taken to Have n tho
Best.

The great results obtained from q
careful selection Of seed corn IN ex-
perimental work are attracting a great
deal OF attention to that feature ~
corn growing. Instances are reported
where the results have been almost
double the ordinary production This
should be very encouraging TO tho
farther, for there is no other method
by which he can double his crop with
so small an expenditure.
The usual manner OF picking out
whit is presumed to be the good look
ing ears Is good as far as II goes II
has had something to do with keeping
But there are features that this
method Of selection will not embrace,
and besides some knowledge of the
essential features Of good ear Of
corn should be obtained before a good
selection can be made.
We are told that In order to get q
high grade Of development, says Or
ange Judd Farmer, the seed patch
must be isolated beyond the POSSIBLE
ity Of cross. pollination from other
corn; and that pollination should be
permitted only from the most desira-
BILE stalks; and that the selection Of
seed corn should take place in tho
patch at time of maturity, selecting
with reference to both ear and stalk.
We all know from experience that en-
traordinary height in the stalk dOes
ri hut En-. a., 80
that 1t requires plant food TO support
the stalk that should give vigor to the
ear. In case of windstorm IL is tho
lofty stalks that blow down.
Seed should be selected that will
give regulation in height and body OF
the stalk, then, II there is any sur
plus OF vigor, It should be directed to
the ear. Repeated selections In this
manner from year to year have re-
suited In the development Of the corn
that is attracting the attention OF tho
farmers everywhere.
Every farmer can have seed patch
OF his own. II need not be 80 large
but what he can give it careful atten-
ton, which would consist mostly In
detasseling undesirable stalks. In this
manner choice seed for his own plant
ing could be obtained every year.
Many OF the farmers have not the
advantage Of such selection for tho
general planting for this year, but they
can with little more care make o
better selection than heretofore. Tho
ear should be of good size and weight
well filled at the ends, and the space
between the rows should be well MED
by the expansion Of the grains. There
should be deep grain and the cob
should be large enough TO hold tho
grains comfortably and give a gooa
body to the ear.
II the corn has been In the dry and
not exposed to damp air or freezing
weather, the probabilities are that II
will grow without any trouble. II II
has been kept under the reverse con-
ditions, 1t should be well tested BE-
fore planting. Even II the corn will
grow there may be such lack Of
vitality as to prevent rapid growth,
except under the most favorable con
ditions. The season for planting 10
so short that one cannot afford to
make a mistake in getting good seed.
Grains on the ends of the ear should
not be planted. as they are not Of tho
ideal In size and shape; besides, to
get anything like an equal number Of
grains In a hill, there should be equal
ity In the size Of grains Grains En-
cessively large sometimes get wedged
iengthwise in small plate, causing
complete obstruction until It becomes
dislodged. Selection Of seed should
be made In the field in the fall, for II
is the only time that the stalk, time
OF maturity and conditions of growth
can be taken into consideration.