The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-09-17
SELECTING SEED CORN.

Millions of Dollars Lost Annual
ly by Improper Methods of Sc
lecting Seed Coma Good
Method Suggested.
C. B. Williams, director of the
North Carolina Agricultural Elk
pertinent Station at West Raleigh,
has issued the following press
bulletin in regard to selecting
seed corn for larger yields:
The practice of selecting
seed-corn from the barn late in
the spring costs the farmers of
North Carolina, in decreased
yields of shelled corn, an amount
equal to more than five million
dollars annually. Just so long as
this method is followed, just so
long will the corn-growers of the
State lack this amount of pro-
ducing what they might with the
same treatment under identical
conditions were they to use bet
ter methods in the selection of
their seedcorn. The proper place
to select seed for planting pur-
poses next year is in the field this
fall. One day spent in the field
in selecting seed-corn properly
will pay better in increased yields
than most any labor performed
during the entire year. There
are many ways in which this
work might be done SATISFACTORY
ly, the exact method depending
upon local conditions and prac-
tees. Economy of performance
of the operation is always to be
looked after but not at a sacrifice
of efficiency. Where corn is
gathered from stalks in the field
in the usual way, good method
for the corn-grower to use is tC
sling a contemplating bag over
the shoulder or take a basket ir
the hand and go through anC
make the selections from the
field Of corn which he has that il
a little above the average in pro
ductivity. Take two rows at (;
time and select seed from those
stalks which have two well-de
: veloped ears per stalk, remem
bering that in the selection O.
! seed one should select from tn
stalks that will yield the larges
, amount of shelled corn per stalk
The reason why it is advised Sc
Letting from two-eared stalks i
o because in testing and studying
varieties of corn during the pas
! eight years on the Experimen
q Station farm and elsewhere,
has been found that the bes
yielders of shelled corn per stall
and hence per acre were thos
that averaged near two ears pc
stalk. Take both of the ears
they are good ones and rejec
both if they are not. Do nc
: give much detailed attention
: the shape of the ears and grain
d during field selection, but reserv
this for some rainy or snowy da
d during the winter and have tn
+ young boys around to help, a
there is no form Of farm wor
/, that will interest them more Q
i lead them to take a deeper inter
s est in the work of the farm. On
: reason why so many boys leav
the farm is because they are ne
:. taught that there is somethin
- more in farming than the mel
- drudgery connected with i
, When going through the fiel
J. selecting these ears it might
= we'll to have the boys along too
lie they are old enough to appr'
ciate the value and importanc
> of what is being done.
ID cart or wagon might be ;
one end of the rows and whe
re you get there each time emp
n, the basket or bag. Enough col
to should be gathered in this VIZ
so that when the more careful S
: lection is made during the whit
in at the barn, having in mind Il
r best shape earsandkernels, enou2
w. will be left for planting, aft
y throwing out the ears of DO
= ! shape and those having kerne
~ not up to the proper type it
It wished to use for planting. S
lect from the field three to fl,
y times as much corn as it is e
" pected to be needed, so that
. very rigid selection of the ca
IS may be made during some wi
,ir ter day. Make selections fro