The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-01-25
Winter and Spring Work in
Selecting Seed Corn

X corn StSaEcIl- u
,ort occun;es the center Of the crown
end of the kernel and usually par
tally surrounds the germ. II com,
i prises about IS per cent OF the kefioi
less in high protein corn ana NOR
in low protein corn). 1t IS poor -
protein 6 to S per cent?.
9. Hull. The hull is the very UNI
outer coat. 1t comprises about o Pc
cent Of the kernel and contains a low
or p~ercentase of protein tabout 4 per
cent? than any other part OF the ker-
rel.
When the grain sprouts, No. :. the
! embryo root, goes upward out OF the
| ground to make the stalk.
For seed the grain should be care
| fully examined as to Cd shape, ~
uniformity or resemblance, Cd germ
or yiability, /. G., sproutlng-
In seed corn it is important that
the germ be large. sound and Wen
developed. II a corn is desired
Of starch or Of gluten or of Oil, re
gard must be had to these points IN
the selection. BY selecting grams
with very large hearts the oil n
protein content IS increased. lhoSe
with a large amount of white ma
teriai yield more starch. Grains can
be selected to produce a corn for gen
eral feed purposes, for meal or Tor
hominy or breakfast food.
1t is well not only to have an a
Of desired type, but also an ear
which has grain Of proper kind. Ky
crossing the grain you desire on the
chosen type Of ear, you can produce
corr of desired shape and compost
ton of grain. The weight of the
grain is an important item. for In all
the markets corn is sold by weight.
If you have corn which belongs to
a variety hat you have known for
some time as q good sound corn. |
striking ear which might appear as a
new type. Give the new type a trial
for another season, and do not rely
upon it for your general crop until
you have learned whether 1t is d de-
sirable type or only d freak. A horse
quality is preferable for a breeder
to n that may appear finer, but has
no pedigree behind him.
One corr growers association In
Ohio reports that while a cylindrical
ear is the best individual specimen,
the tapering ears yield the greatest
amount of corn per acre.
You have selected your seed OF,
rather. perhaps, chosen the lot OF
corn Cone bushel or more) which you
viii use for this purpose. Choose the
ear that seems TO you to most near.
resemble the picture in table which
you think IS the type you desire. Now
compare each other a with this one.
This can be done by placing q num-
Der Of ears along a plank or table and
putting the type-ear by each in turn.
Put aside those that are approved.
plant these in the same plat, putting
some of the seemingly much desira-
BILE in separate rows, each ear to
itself.
Perhaps in your lot of corn there
are some ears different from the
first choice. Fake one of these Of a
distinct character and use it to Sc
lect others, and plant his lot in a
different plat from the first. and see
which gives best results as to guam
tity and quality Of corn.
On account of the variety OF soil
and Inmate in North Carolina. no one
variety alone will prove the best a
riety for each l~ocality-the most de-
sirable for bottom-land. and the diff
ference between the upland and the
bottom-land types.
The lot which YOU deem best on
account Of shape, etc, may have a
grain inferior in some respects. Mix
with this corn Of desirable quality as
to grain, s~oundness and other desira-
BILE characteristics.
You have now selected your seed,
as far as eye can aid YOU. You do
not wish to spend time or pay hands
III lCp40IIlliiS - Viii De BEST
to take a grain from each side OF the
ear at different places Numbering
the earl. and try these in the sprout-
lng-boS, II you hin necessary. and
dlscard the ears that do not ger
inmate But in my experience l
have never failed to get what seemed
to be q satisfactory stand. where good
seed Was selected. However. each
one can determine this for himself
oy some of his seed and
comparing the stand When nlanraa
from the ears with that not tested bv
sprouting. -
Nineteen hundred and nine was an
a. d. G. year with North Carolina
cia al1ets III corn production. and espe-
tlaiiy III seed selection. In fact nost
OF thenl "1lI do the first real selaction
GUS year t1910). You cannot Trn-
uuce a reliable variety Of new cow
III one year. Do not be discouraged.
pu' continue the work until Won eat
what YOU wish and tho, - SCI