The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-07
good ears on a stalk. take both.

good ears on stalk, take both. II
one happens to be poor. select only
the good one. Gather for seed only
those ears that have the end well
covered with a close-fitting shuck, as
this is a very effective protection
against the weevil Except as stated,
not much can be done in selecting the
They should be fairly long. nearly
fiat on the sides, and slightly taperihg
on both edges. The dent should be
only slight and the outer ends should
be we'll filled out and not chaffy.
The Seed Patch.
When ready to plant, select from
this lot of corn as many ears az are
| necessary for the seed patch. of as
nearly uniform color, shape and size
as possible. Remove the imperfect and
| irregular grains at tip and butt and
plant the remainder in carefully pre-
pared ground. Have the seed patch as
far removed from other cornf1tlds as
can be, so as to avoid mixing. Give
this patch special care and cultiva-
| ton, and practice the same care In
selection each year. The patch should
not be too large; one-fourth to one
| half acre is ample for the average
farm. After making final selection
for the seed patch, the remainder OF
| the selected corn can be used for the
main crop. BY keeping up this prac-
| tice OF selection from year to year
a wonderful Improvement can be made
/ in the yield and quality of corn.
! It has been demonstrated that, all
other conditions being equal, an aver
age increase In the yield over common
corn of from three to five bushels per
acre can easily be made the first year.
AS the whole crop is improved. of
course this rate of increase will not
be so rapid, but If persisted in from
year to year the careful selection OF
seed will have an ultimate marked ef-
feet upon the corn field.
How the Farmer May Profit.
The farmer who follows this prac-
tice of seed selection persistently will
not only be repaid in the increased
yield of his corn. but he will soon find
that he can command quite a premium
for 1t from his less progressive neigh
| bors by selling 1t to them for seed at
a price much greater than ordinary
seed corn commands. The satisfac-
ton of knowing that he has better
corn for his conditions than can be
purchased at any price will be an ad-
u1Alollul
II the directions given above are
strictly followed the Virginia farmers
need not be seed buyers when they
are ready to plant corn, and the
quicker they get to making their own
improved seed the better, FOR Mr..
Knapp tells me that the South is in
greater need OF improved varieties OF
corn than is the case with any Of her
other crops. However. our people are
beginning to realize the Importance Of
a ''pure breed" Of corn, and quite a
remunerative field OF industry awaits
farmers who Will make a business of
raising reliable seed corn. Owing to
the fact that corn Is so easily in
| huenced by a change of climate and
soil. this field of industry is very
broad and not likely to become crowd
ed for good many years yet
termination Test for Corn.
Mr.. Knapp, In a recent circular warns
farmers that great amount OF trouble
In securing stands from purchased
seed, and especially that OF corn, is
due to the fact that much seed, SC
obtained. is of low vitality. When 1t
is necessary to purchase seed corr
the seller should be required to guar
antee a termination of 100 per cent
Always buy seed corn on the ear and
| then you can form some idea OF what
Is being purchased, II 1t comes ur
| to the requirements SGT forth in this
Particle, Afterwards test Its. germinat-
ing powers That is easily dona ii
you know how. Have an ordinary
box about twelve inches wide. eigh-
teen inches long and twelve inches
deep. Put In the bottom eight
inches of horse manure. wetting
1t we'll and packing 1t into the
box. On top OF this place two
inches OF Well-dampened sandy soil
and AT a piece Of thin cloth, into
the box on top OF the sandy soil. The
muslin or cloth should previously have
been marked into one-inch souasss