The Kemper herald., 1908-04-16
Devoted 70 the Industrial, Csnneseii and Agricultural
Items Of Issere:. from all Quarters !: /:
FOR
GREATER
MISSISSIPPI
By H. Z. BLAKESLEE.

The purchase of selected types O1
seed corn for this year does not guar
antee the same seed for planting next
year and the year after unless care
is exercised in the selection from year
to year of corn true to type and good
otherwise. The same is true of cot
ton and other seed for general farm
use. The men who have propagated
good seed have done so by strict
selection from year to year, never
losing sight of the especial qualities
that it was desired to develop. Hence,
the article ON seed selection some
time since that has brought out sew
eral communications and experiences
that are worthy Of reproduction.
From these has been selected the
following, written by Mr.. W. G. Trim
Bile, of Staffords, Bolivar county. His
letter is worthy of careful perusal
and consideration
Noticing your article in the coun-
ty papers relative to closer attention
to the growing of corn in Our state,
/ desire to submit to. your considera-
ton series Of experiments that |
have been conducting, looking to the
improvement Of corn that wouN be
an advantage to this section of the
state. Three years ago | purchased
! selected lot of Boone County white
seed corn from a member of the Il
linois Corn Breeders Association with
the idea of acclimating to this lati-
tude and gain an increased yield over
corn usually grown here. In this |
was disappointed. Giving careful at
tention to cultivation, the yield was
below expectations; the grain shape,
size Of cob and appearance Of ear
rather adhered to type, but the grain
was inclined to be soft and inviting
to weevils.
"The following year selected ears
that looked more promising and this
seed l planted in alternate rows with
. corn that / had raised for number
Of years and was hard. | Ss-tasseled
the northern corn and the result was,
that / gained corn that was harder
In grain, ears of good appearance and
Of an average of about 8 1-2 inches
in length, but not as well filed sout
as l would have liked to have seen
them. Last year l planted seed from
the de-tasseled rows only, and netted
on six acres Of trial ground that had
no previous fertilizing beyond plant
ing iii peas, yield of forty bushels
to the acre, of clear white corn, OF
longer cob and Of grain, that while
not SO large as the original Boone
county white, were of good average
size. The ground selected was, l will
admit, above the average that would
be encountered by the Delta planter
in the matter of thorough drainage,
and each ear was tested for germiaa-
ton strength, only the seed from ears
showing most vigorous sprouts being
retained for planting.
"This year | have already planted
twenty-five acres and expect to plant
seventy-five acres more. On the fields
planted the stand is exceptionally
good despite the varied changes in
tmperature that we have experienced.
In order to give ,the crossed grains q
more thorough trial, ! have given seed
to others with the hope and intention
BY broadening the experience and if
you would be interested, / would glad
ly send you small amount Of the
corn to place with some good planter
for trial in the hill or prairie section
Of the state. All that l ask is, that
you designate the man and require OF
him intelligent cultivation, and a re-
port to me in the fall of the result
Of his trial. If the result obtained
by myself and others allow me to
conscientiously feel that l have inn
proved and developed variety OF
corn that would be of value to others,
l will place it ON the market as a
seed corn. Can you suggest any form
Of further Improvement | would be
glad to accept anything you may offer
in the way OF suggestion as to in
creased yield, or other improvement
Of the corr"
Mr.. Trimble bids fair to build .
corn that will be valuable to the peo-
pie Of Mississippi. A continuance
Of selection methods, first in the field
before gathering and later after re-
moving the shuck, will no doubt de-
velop a variety Of corn especially
adapted to the Delta and likely all
sections Of the state. The result of
his efforts will be watched with the
greatest interest, and it is to be hoped
that future bulletins from this de-
partment may illustrate the success
full corn bred by Mr.. Trimble.
Hog and hominy constitute the
breastworks and fortification for a