The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-05-14
SELECTING SEED CORN.
Care Should Be Taken to Have II the
Best.


The great results obtained from a
careful selection OF seed corn in ex-
perimental work are attracting a great
deal Of attention to that feature OF
corn growing. Instances are reported
where the results have been almost
double the ordinary production. This
should be very encouraging to the
farmer, for there is no other method
by which he can double his crop with
so small an expenditure
The usual manner of picking out
what is presumed to be the good look
ing ears is good as far as it goes. 1t
has had something to do with keeping
the corn up to the present standard.
But there are features that this
method Of selection viii not embrace,
and besides some knowledge of the
essential features of a good ear OF
corn should be obtained before good
selection can be made.
We are told that in order to get
high grade of development, says Or
ange Judd Farmer, the seed patch
mist 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 the
patch at time Of maturity, selecting
| with reference to both ear and stalk
We all know from experience that ex-
traOrdinary height in the stalk does
| not contribute to the size of the ear,
that 1t requires plant food to support
the stalk that should give vigor to the
ear. In case of a windstorm it is the
lofty stalks that blow down
Seed should be selected that viii
give regulation in height and body OF
the stalk, then, if 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 the
farmers everywhere.
Every farmer can have a seed patch
of his own 1t need not be so 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 the
/ general planting for this year. but they
can with little more care make a
better selection than heretofore The
ear should be Of good size and weight.
well filed at the ends, and the space
between the rows should be well filed
by the expansion of the grains. There
should be deep grain and the cob
should be large enough to hold the
grains comfortably and give good
body to the ear.
If the corn has been in the dry and
not exposed to damp air or freezing
weather, the probabilities are that it
viii grow without any trouble If it
has been kept under the reverse con-
ditions, it should be well tested be-
fore planting. Even if the corn win
grow there may be- such a lack of
vitality as to prevent rapid growth.
except under the most favorable con-
ditions. The season for planting is
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 the
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 ex
cessively large sometimes get wedged
lengthwise in a small plate, causing
complete obstruction until 1t becomes
dislodged-s 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