The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1908-09-17
Selecting Seel.Cora for Larger Yields.
m C. Eyperfmert Station.)

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 mil
lion dollars annually. Just SO long
as this method is followed, just so
long will the corn-growers OF the
State lack this amount Of producing
what they might with the same
treatment under identical conditions
were they to use better methods in
the selection of their seed-corn. The
proper place to select seed for
planting purposes 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 perform
ed during the entire year. There
are many ways in which this work
might be done satisfactorily, the OK
act method depending upon local
conditions and practices. Economy
of performance of the operation is
always to be looked after but not at
sacrifice of efficiency. Where corn
is gathered from stalks in the usual
way, a good method for the corn
grower to use is to sling cotton
picking bag over the shoulder or
take a basket in the hand and go
through and make the selections
from the field of corn which he has
that is little above the average in
productivity. Take two rows at a
time and select seed from those
stalks which have two well-deveiop-
ed ears per stalk, remembering that
in the selection of seed one should
select from the stalks that will yield
the largest amount of shelled corn
per stalk. The reason why it is ad-
yised selecting from two-eared stalks
is because in studying varieties OF
corn during the past eight years OF
the Experiment Station farm and
elsewhere, it has been found that
the best yielders of shel!ed corn per
stalk and Renee per acre were those
that averaged rear two ears per
stalk. Take both of the ears i: they
are good ones and reject both il they
are not. Do not give much detailed
attention to the shape Of the ears
and grains during field selection. but
reserve this for some rainy or snowy
day during the winter and have the
young boys around to help, as there
is no form Of farm work that will
interest them more or lead them to
take deeper interest in the work of
the farm. One reason why so many
boys leave the farm is because they
are not taught that there is some
thing more in farming than the
mere drudgery connected with it.
When going through the field select
ing these ears it might be we'll to
have the boys along too if they are
old enough to appreciate the value
and Importance Of what is being
done. A cart or wagon might be al
one end Of the rows and when you
get there each time empty the has.
ket or bag. Enough corn should be
gathered in this way so that wher
the more careful selection is made
during the winter at the barn, hav,
ing in mind the best shape Of the
ears and kernels, enough will be left
for planting, after throwing Out
the ears of poor shape and those
having ears not up to the proper
| type it is wished to use for planting
| Select from the field three to five
times as much corn as it is expected
to be needed, so that a very rigic
selection of the ears may be made
during some winter day. Make Sc
lections from stalks that not only
bear two well-developed ears, bu
from those that have a good lea
development and large root system
Select ears that are borne at uni
form and convenient height. for sucl
ears are more easily and cheaply
gathered; they ripen more uniform
ly and are less liable not to have the
embryo grains fortified, as the tas
selling of all stalks will be practical
ly at the same date and the pol.er
from all will be given off at abou
the same time. The ears should b,
held not upright, but in rather
dropping position, as such ears ar,
less liable to rot, as they will shet
the rain rather than admit it int,
the ears, as they frequently do whel
held in an upright position; especial
ly is this so if the husks {shuck) d.
not cover the tips Of the ears com
| ,ol& al,