Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
South Dakota State College
Experiment Station.
SEED CORN DAY. WHEN?

because a lew years ago the first Kill
ing frost was September 1lth. Cal
we afford to cake chances on our SeeC
corn? No, because it means toe
much. Last spring there was great
deal Of inferior corn in South Dakota
Why? To what was it due? Mostly
to carelesSness on the part of we
farmers. Often times we believe it is
more thoughtlessness than it is care
leSsneSS.
| WHAT SHALL WE DO?
Make good selection. by this
we mean the practice of securing
| from the available stock of corn the
most ideal ears possible, and using
those for seed. Ideas may vary as to
what an ideal ear is, but when we say
we want for seed the ear which, when
placed in the field under average con-
ditions, will produce the greatest
amount of good, marketable corn the
coming season, everyone will agree.
Our selection should be based on this
ideal"
SELECTION?
In the field. When? Before Sep
temher 18th. We know that all ears
matured at this date will in all prob
ability be ripe the same time the fol-
lowing season. Remember that like
begets like.
HOW SHALL l MAKE TIE SELECTION?
Throw bag over your shoulder
and go out into the field, look first at
the stalks on which the ears are
borne. Do they show strength, are
they large at the base, do the leaves
show good color, etc? Then examine
the ears. Are the Shanks large and
strong so that the ear is held in an
upright position? If so, do not select
these ears. Because they are in the
best possible position to catch all of
the rain. The result will be frozen
ear upon very slight provocation.
If the shanks are slightly bent so
as to allow the ears to keep nice
angle, an angle which throws the
husks in position to protect the ear
from catching the rain, | would select
these ears.
Shall we select the ear from a small
Or large shank? Neither one. Make
the selection from a medium sized
shank, as this allows easy huskiDg.
Be sure ard select the ears not too
high from the ground, as this means
late maturity.
HOW MUCH SHALL 1 SELECT?
A forty acre field requires about six
bushels of seed, if there is no replant-
ing to be done. So to be on the safe
side select at least ten bushels for
each forty acres you expect to plant.
This will give sufficient seed to guard
against accidents that might occur
WHAT SHALL 1 DO WITH IT WHEN l
BRING IT IN FROM THE FIELD.
Place it where it will dry in the
shortest time possible. A good plan
is the old one of tying them in lots by
strings and hanging in the summer
kitchen where there is no steam or in
the attic above the stovepipe. The
attic is good place, because it has a
good circulation of air and it will be
protected from the hard freezing.
Prof. Holden says: "The advantages
of this method of storing are first,
that it gives better protection from
mice than where it is spread on the
floor or corded III piles Or put in racks.
Second, it gives better circulation of
air, which allows the corn to dry out
quickly and thoroughly, thus pro-
tectlng it from moulding and sprout-
ing and from being frozen while it is
sappy. The greatest enemy to good
seed corn is freezing while it contains
moisture"
Can we afford to be careless with
our seed corn? No, because it means
too much.
Can we afford to store our seed corn
in boxes? No. Because it will gath
er moisture and freezing will be the
result.
Can we afford to store our seed corn
over a laundry? NO.
Can we afford to store our seed corn
over the stable? No. Because it is
likely to sprout.
If we do our part on Seed Corn Day
the history of the spring Of 1910 will
not be repeated in 1911.
By CLIFFORD WILLIS,
Chief in AgronOmy.