The progressive farmer and southern farm gazette., 1910-03-12
How to Select Seed Corn.

one member or part OF the plant and
is therefore, an insufficient basis for improve
ment of the yield by selection. In fact, while
the ear has in recent years received much atten.
ton from the growers In their selection OF seed
corn. 1t is probably not important part OF the
plant considering the objects in view. the stalk
That is, an increase in yield could probably be
more easily and quickly secured by attention to
the stalk alone than by attention TO the ear alone.
and II the best results to be obtained careful
field selection of stalks and ears both are essen.
tial.
The following is an effort TO briefly state the
characters OF the corn plant which should form
guide standard for our readers In the selcc-
ton of seed corn:
The desirable corn stalk In one OF medium
height. In the South the tendency In to grow Too
large, hence height of or . feet should "
adhered to- II should be large and sturdy at the
base. tapering evenly TO tho top and standing
erect II should be FREQ from all disease. smut.
etc. and well supplied with IL 90 Is broad. well.
developed ieaves The ears. not icas than two Of
them. should be about the middle OF the stalk
preferably below rather than above tho middle
The ears should be attached by shank OF sus-
ear turning slightly downward go as 10 shed VA.
ter, but should not be too long-say fvc inchcs
Suckers or of-shoots OF any sort are ahIc
The reasons why these characters arc desirable
are apparent The most important part OF the
plant ia the ear. hence too grea, an amour, Of
pant food should not be used up In the produc-
ton of the stalk. sturdy stalk with broad
leaves. Indicates more vigorous plant tall
slender stalk. with tho ears placed high. IA too
easily blown down More than one car ta dcxtr-
able. because. while II has not been demonstrated
no" many ears are best. IL has been demonstrated
| by Southern Experiment Stations tha, varieties
having a tendency to produce the iarwes, pcr cent
OF stalks bearing two or more cara produce the
most sheled corn per acre.
Uniformity In type In desirable quality and
ah evidence OF the purity of any given variety
Uniformity In type does not mean strict uniform
ity In the size OF the ears but there ahoula bc
ne same general shape OF ear with tho same color
Shape ana sze or kernel. and the closest approach
practicable to uniformity In aixc OF ear IN also do
| sirable.
length OF Ear.-The length and sire OF tho ear
VIII vary In different varieties but tho desirable
relation between length and sxe Ia c,ye,u,.,-r..
three-fourths the length. That is an ear ,nches
long should be about inches In circumference
for making this comparison. the circumference
- Tue ear should be measured about one-third
'he distance from the butt toward the tip An
ear OF medium length In probably best A large
ear. OF course. will yield more corn. bu, two me-
atnm ears VIII yield more than one large ear and
'"o medium ears are easier TO get In ono stalk
nan one ear large enough To she'll ma much corn
as the two medium ears. An ear measuring from
- to inches Is probably not far from the righ,
length. s go
shape OF Ear.-The ear should be an near the
same size at the tip and the butt as IL In possible
20 get H. or course. this is rarely the case. the
ip usually being smaller. but a tapering ear is
'DJeouohhoie' because. as the ear gets smaller
towards the tip the grains mus, beeom. s,na,,ar