Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1909-04-03


The time for special treatment
comes when the tassels begin to ap-
pear We have already learned that
inbreeding Is weakening and that
cross fertilization develops strength
and vitality. In order 90 prevent in
breeding In the individual ear plot
the tassels on every alternate row
should be pulled out as soon as they
appear. In order that these may be
removed before they shed any pollen
1t will be necessary to go over the
field every other day for week after
the first tassels start. At the same
time any tassels from weak, barren or
spindling stalks In the other rows
should be removed. In this way only
pollen from healthy, vigorous stalks
is allowed to mature. Thus the ears
on the detasseled rows, being cross
fertilized and having only strong,
healthy male parents, have much
better chance Of producing large
yields when planted than would ears
picked from the general field.
The most important point, however,
is the selection of high yielding
strains that Is made possible by hav-
ing the ears planted in individual
rows. When harvesting time comes
the produce of each row should be
husked separately and weighed. 1t
will be found that there is a great
difference In yield. The highest yield
ing rows, provided the corn Is OF
good quality, should furnish seed for
next years breeding plot. The rest
Of the good seed ears from the detas-
seled rows should be planted In a
small field, known as the multiplying
plot" The best of the seed from this
multiplying plot can be used to plant
the general fields and for sale.
BY continuing this breeding process
from year to year strain Of corn
may be built up that will far outyield
the ordinary corn of the neighborhood
In addition to the increase In yield
which will result on your own farm, Z
trade in seed corn may be built uI
that will add materially to the years
profits. There are many variations IL
the plan Of breeding here outlined, but
| the essential point In all of them is Il
select the best yielding individual
ears and to prevent cross pollinatior
as much as possible.
After the seed corn has been picket
it should be stored in such a manne
that 1t win pass through the wintel
uninjured. The hints in regard to seek
/ In vi 10 ch
be followed.
Some time toward the close Of win
ter the corn should be tested. For |
| preliminary test hundred kernel
may be taken from as many ears II
different parts Of the room. II tn
corn has exceptionally strong vitalit,
the kernels may all terminate. L
case some Of the kernels fall to grow
or any considerable number SHOW
weak sprouts each ear should be test
ed separately in order that the weal
ones may be discarded. The metho'
Of making this test has been describes
so many times in agricultural paper
and bulletins that 1t will be unneces
sary to give it In detail here. 1t sin
ply consists In placing several kernel
from each ear in correspondent
square In the terminating box. In thi
way the vitality Of each ear may b
readily determined.
Shortly before planting time th
ears should be shelled and run throug
seed corn grader to take out the but
and tip kernels and divide the res
into even grades. The next step is
block up the planter and run throug
a sample Of each grade, changin
plates until a set is found that wi
drop the required number of kerne
practically every time. II this is don
and well tested seed used goo
stand will almost certainly result.
Avoid too deep planting. All that
necessary is to have the seed well CO.
cred with moist soil. II this can
done without putting It down mol