The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-05-02

THIS spring Seed-cOrn should hav
been saved, but taking the seed W
nave. We may select the best of it i
this way. The corn should be place
on tables in a light room and studie
on bright day. Never attempt t
pick out young seed-corn except in tn
best light. Examine the ears careful
ly as to weight and color.
Take some of the grains from eac
ear and notice the shape and tn
depth. Go back and forth over tn
ears until you know each one.
Reject the poorer corn and wor
the best ears over to one end of tn
table. Save only the best for plant
ing; or if quite lit,le is needed. max
two or more grades Of corn and plan
in different parts Of the field.
The qualities that should be consid
cred in the selection of corn are type
of-bred charact eristics, general quail
ties regardless of variety or type, ma
turity and seed condition, and compo
SitiOn.
A familiarity with these points ma
be had by going over the seed cor
several times and studying one qualit
at a time. Notice how great variatiO
may be found in each quality and de
eide what types should be used as
practical standard.
seed-corn, doubtless the adapta bility
maturity, seed condition, amount o
grain and uniformity of grain ar
among the important qualities, but tn
exact relative Importance Of each ha
not been determined
AS d matter of fact, the impOrtanc
of the several qualities varies in tn
comparison of different ears, the see
conditions may be practically the Onl
n dOcidlnO
show a strong termination and tn
other fail to germinate; while in com
pairing two other ears the seed cOnd1
tiOnS may not be a deciding factor a
all. since each terminates equally well
For the use of the beginner in pick
ing out seed-corn, perhaps the bes'
rules that could be given are as fol
lows:
Select ears Of medium size for you
locality The small-eared types Whicl
do not utilize the entire growing sea
son will not produce a maximum yield
The large cared types which are s.
late that they cannot mature a hard
solid ear also fail of maximum pro
duction and yield a product which i
inferior both for the market and hOm
consumption.
Select ears that are very heavy fo
their size The yield seems to be NOR
closely associated with weight of ea
than any other quality
Select ears of bright, healthy color
Ears of dull or pale color are usually
immature or have been exposed to th'
weather; their seed condition is apt t
be poor and the vitality Of the plant:
low
Select ears with grains of uniform
size and shape Aside from its indfca
ton Of trueness to type, uniformity
of grain is of consid erable Importance
in getting an even distribution of seed
and a uniform stand
To test seed corn for termination
is essential to modern methods OF
corn-production. The poor stand OF
corn is largely responsible for the low
average yield, and it is Impossible tc
get good stand without good, strong
seed
No one can identify and discard all
the ears of poor terminating qualities
without the aid Of a terminating test.
A handmade germinator which has
proven very satisfactory may be maze
of a box 2x20X30 inches inside m cas-
ure. Fill nearly full of moist sand
and mark into squares two inches
across by a cord which is passed
around the nails driven in the sides
Of the box
The checks in the first row, be
ginning at one end are numbered from
/ to 10, the second IL TO 70. etc'
After placing six grains rom each ear
in their respective checks. another
half inch of moist sand is used TO
cover the corn. If in any check all
Of the grains do not grow, the corre-
spending ear should be discarded.
The seed corn should be further-pre-
pared for planting by shelling OF the
butt and tip grains; by taking out all
other irreguiar-shape grains: by
hand shelling. with careful obSerVa-
ton to discover any ears when nave
undesira bic grains. In MAKING tests
chen tray has been planted it must
,a thoroughly watered and kept IN
yarn, room where it will not be upset
,:.urhod until the test Is finish ed