The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-08-26
PRESS BULLETIN NO. 5
South Dakota State College
Experiment Station
SEED CORN DAY.
WHEN2


Because a few years ago the first kill
ing frost was September l1th. Can
we afford to take chances on our seed
corn? No. because it means too much.
Last spring there was a good deal of
inferior corn in South Dakota. Why?
o VI hat was it due? Mostly to care
.>s.>,Aess on the part of we farmers.
Often times we believe it is more
thoughtlessness than it is careless
ness.
WHAT SHALL WE DO?
Make a 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 aver
age conditions, will produce the
greatest amount of good, marketable
corn the coming season, everyone will
agree. Our selection should be based
on this ideal"
WHERE SHALL WE MAKE THE
SELECTION?
In the field. When? Before Sep
tember 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
beget like.
HOW SHALL l MAKE THE Sc
LECTION?
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 a very Slight provocation.
If the shanls 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, l would select
these ears.
Shall we select the ear from small
or large shank? Neither one. Make
the selection from a medium sized
shank, as this allows easy huslling.
Be sure and select the ears not too
high from the ground, as this means
late maturity.
HOW MUCH SHALL l SELECT?
A forty acre field requires about six
bushels Of seed, if there is no re-
planting 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 l DO WITH 1T
WHEN l BRING IT IN FRCM
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 sum-
mer kitchen where there is no steam
or in the attic above the stovepipe
The attic is a good place, because it
has good circulation of air and it
will be protected from the hard freez-
ing.
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 in piles or put in
racks. Second, it gives better circula-
tion of air, which allows the corn to
dry out quickly and thoroughly, thus
protecting it from mouldering and
sprouting and from being frozen
while it is sappy. The greatest enemy
TO good SEED corn is 1reeZlng While 1t
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 gather
moisture and freezing will be the re-
suit.
Can we afford to store our seed corn
over laundry? No.
Can we afford to store our seed 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 WILT,
Chief in Agronomy,
J. V. BOPP,
Asst Chief in Agronomy.