The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1908-01-09
CORN FOR SEED
Likely toBe Very Scarce Article
This Year
HOW TO PROCURE IT
C.. T. Bull of the Agricultural tx
pertinent Station issues a Bul-
Ietin on the Subject

{. P. Bull assistant at the Agri-
cultural Experiment Station at St.
anthony Park, Mimi. has just issued
the following bulletin relative to pro-
curing seed corn for the coming year:
1t may seem somewhat out of sea-
son to mention the factors pertaining
to the successful corn crop for 1908.
The season just closed has brought
fcrth results that have not been en-
couraging. The crops have been less
I,ioductive than in former years. The
high prices received for farm produce
have brought the value of the crop up
to normal, but the rael quality (grade
of the grain is below the usual stand
ard of excellence. This has been par
ticularly true of the corn crop. AS a
result, there is sure to be a poor
quality and a much too limited supply
of seed corn.
For the 100000 acres devoted to
corn in Minnesota there will be nee
essary about 214,2S6 bushels of seed
r. uuired in 1908, to say nothing of
the seed necessary for planting the
many acres of fodder corn annually
produced. When we consider that
only small per cent of the yield OF
al. acre of corn is fit for seed, it is
little wonder that there is such a de-
mand for seed corn. From the
United States Crop Report, the re-
ports indirectly received from the var
icus localities of the state, and the
reports received by the Division OF
Agriculture from farmers who have
&C, .operated with the Experiment Sta
ton in growing Minnesota No. Is
corn it is evident that the 1907 corn
crop is an immature one. From the
fifty letters sent out to corn co-Ope-
rators. only three have reported a
thoroughly, mature crop and seed for
ST IL. There is sure to be an increas-
Ell demand for seed corn next spring.
A great many farmers will unthink-
i,gly use Southern seed Ill adapted to
their conditions. or seed of poor quail
ity.
The requisites of first-class seed
Germ are three in number: Cd Life
or terminating ability; CD Purity and
breeding: go Condition of seed ina
turitv). In this bulletin the author
wishes to lay stress upon the first and
to call attention to the great need OF
saving some seed teven though the
quality may not be what it should
be-, and Of properly caring for the
seed.
These have to do primarily with
tie life of the seed and are this year
Of greater importance than usual
AS already stated, the general quail
ity of the corn is poor. Early frosts
prevented the normal maturatiOn OF
the seed and, as a consequence, the
ears are soft, poorly filled and full OF
moisture. This is the very worst
condition the corn could be in for
any purpose. 1t is more susceptible
tn freezing and very difficult to cure
(dry QUIT without molding or sprout-
and thus injuring its vitality ana
strength. However, it is wise under
the prevailing conditions, to save IN
the best possible manner the SEED
ears necessary for planting next years
crop. If farmers, at this late date'
can pick out, cure and save SEED corn
that will grow, or that they think at
this time will grow, they should go 10
their crib or shocks and save IN the
best possible manner all good ears;
even more ears than just enough for
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