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

FIG. 4f-OkE OF THE BEST WA1b III HANG
UP SEED CORN.
ably the more important We have
already learned how the plant obtains
food and water from the soil. The
first step in preparing the soil for a
corn crop, then, Is to see that there Is
a plentiful supply of plant food on
hand. This we can do by using barn
yard manure literally and by follow
ing a consistent system Of rotation
that will equalize the demands made
on the soil and keep up the supply of
nitrogen and humus.
The next point is to see that the soil
is in such condition that the roots
viii have little difficulty in branching
out to secure the needed plant food
and water. Thorough blowing. disk
ing and narrowing will make the soil
fine and mellow, so that the roots
will have little trouble In obtaining
all the plant food they can use, pro-
vided 1t Is there at all.
The water supply can be regulated
to considerable extent by tile drain
age and by keeping the surface loose
to check evaporation. The tempera-
ture of the soil is also an important
factor in Fastening termination and
early growth. Drainage, cultivation
and the maintenance Of a plentiful
supply Of humus will aid greatly In
securing a warm seed bed by planting
time.
With a warm, well prepared soil
containing sufficient quantities Of
plant food and water the next ques-
ton that comes up is regarding the
kind Of seed to put into that soil. Al
most any kind of seed will grow and
produce a fair crop under favorable
conditions. What we are after, how
ever, is not fair crop, but an extra
good one.
The seed of different strains of corr
varies greatly In its ability to produce
yields. In the spring of 1905 the Iowa
experiment station gathered seed from
nearly a hundred different sources anc
planted 1t on the station grounds. Un
der conditions that were as nearly
alike as 1t was possible to make then
the Yields from the different strains
varied from thirty-one to eighty bush
els per acre. This variation shows
that a large share of the improvement
in corn production must come through
the breeding Of high yielding strains
1t is not safe to ship in seed corr
from distance. Corn is very sensi
tive to changes In climate and soil. II
obtain the best results the work O.
breeding must be done for each local
ity and to some extent for each farm
A method of improving seed corr
that will surely result in some I'm
provement and one that has simplicit.
to recommend 1t is that Of selecting
number of the best ears each year ant
planting them in a field by themselve
or In one corner Of the main Held b.
selecting the best ears from this breed
ing plot each year to plant next year
breeding plot and using the rest
the good ears to plant In the mai
field some improvement can be effect
ed. The weak point in this plan, how
ever, is that the yielding power OF
ear cannot be told from its appear
ance. Neither Is It possible to proven
nDreeOlng Dy SUCH IL methou.
To avoid these difficulties the lind
vidual ear" plot has been devised. Thl
should preferably be at least fort
rods from the nearest cornfield. Whel
this is impossible a strip along tn
south side of field of the same var
ETY. may be used. AS the prevailin
July and August winds are from tn
south, very little pollen from the mai
neld will blow over on the breedin
plot.
Each row In the Individual ear pl'
is to be planted with the kernels fro
a single ear AS any fair sized ct
Will plant a row forty rods long, tn
is convenient length for the pic
Select from 90 to 100 Of the best ca
you can find among your seed col
and plant them In as many rov
across the plot. The work can
done with planter If care Is tax
to clean the seed boxes out thoroug
" each time across. The cultivate
oven to thu plot should b. the san