Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-06-18
Making Money
On the Farm.
ILL., Corn Culture
BY G. v. GREGORY.
Author Of Home Course In Modern
Agriculture"
Copyright. 1909. by American Press
Association
Copyright. 1909. by American Pre.s
Association
PREPARATION to raise large
y crop of corn should begin in the
fall of the previous year. Plow-

means De zone the TAIL DeIOre II pOSSl-
BILE. Weed seeds will sprout and be
killed by frost. Insects that are hiber-
mating in the ground will meet the
same fate. Frost is one of the farm
er's best friends in many ways. The
effect of freezing on the exposed plow-
ing is to crumble 1t more thoroughly
than could be done by half dozen
diskings. If the land is clover sod. as
1t should be If the highest yield is to
be expected. the freezing will break up
the sod better than can be done in any
other way. In some cases. however,
where there Is considerable late fall
growth that is available for fall and
winter pasture, 1t is better to let the
blowing go until spring, even If 1t does
make little more work getting 1t in
shape.
Gathering Seed Corn.
Even more important than fall plOw-
ing is the selection Of seed corn early
in the fall and storing 1t carefully for
the winter. The plan of going through
the field early and picking the seed in
a sack is sometimes advocated, but on
most farms this Is too much Of an I'M
dertaking. A better way is to go out
and husk load as soon as 1t Is fairly
well ripened and before any very hard
frosts come. If this Is picked from the
best part Of the field there ought to be
at least three or four bushels Of good
seed ears in it. These can be sorted
out and the remainder spread over the
bottom Of the crib or fed to the hogs.
Half a dozen such loads will usually
furnish all the seed needed. 1t Is q
good plan to save about twice as much
seed as will be required, SO that selec-
ton can be more rigid in the spring.
If there are no very severe freezes
before husking begins in earnest some
more seed corn can be saved by put
ting box on the side of the wagon, in
which the best ears may be thrown. A
better quality of seed may be obtained
in this way because Of wider range
of selection. 1t is not safe to depend
on 1t entirely. however. because hard
freeze when the corn is full of moisture
may kill the germs and make 1t worth
less for seed The first thing to dc
with newly gathered seed is to hang
!, 1t up where it can dry out quickly
An open shed is the best place fol
( this, as the air can circulate readily
3 while the roof keeps off the frost.
I good way to hang the corn Is to ii,
a number of ears on long binding
Irvine. After the corn Is well dried
out and before extremely cold weather
comes 1t should be put In the storage
room. The attic is good place, pro
J. vided there is some provision for ven
tilation. II the corn is dry some freez
ing will not hurt it, but cold ant
moisture together are very injurious.
Selecting and Testing.
Along in February the corn should b.
sorted. picking out only those ears o
= fair size, well filled at the butts an,
: tips and symmetrically shaped through
= out. Further instructions for selecting
corn will be given in article 6. Afte
the corn Is sorted few ears shout
be taken from number of ears In dill
Q ferent parts Of the seed room and test
q ed. fold of moist flannel betwee
o two dinner plates makes good tester
d Put the corn between the layers G
o cloth and set it in some out of th
le way place in the living room. In thre
lie or four days it will be ready to exam