Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1911-03-16
capital News

Good seed is always in demand.
Imagine a mans conception of the
value of pure seed who would give
$3.50 for a bushel of corn, Yet in
1909 that is what happened at Oma-
ha at the National Corn exposition.
That bushel was one Of the Johnson
county white type, the building up
of which took many years of hard,
consistent work. But the results have
more than paid for all the labor in
volved. This corn is now an establish
ed commodity on the corn markets
Of the east ana oJhnson county reaps
the harvest.
Surely the soil ana climate has a
great deal to do with high yields, but
Idaho has the soil and climate, and
with the proper attention results can
not help but come.
Whatsoever a man soweth, that
shall he also reap" This is just as
true now as it ever was You must
SOW good seed to get good results.
The production of pure seed can
be accomplished: First, it is abso-
lutely necessary that a pure strain
be acclimated before real results can
be obtained; second, the selection for
propagation of the best individuals
from this acclimatized stock must
then be inaugurated.
hTe acclimatization of stock Will
take place anywhere from two to four
years or even longer, depending en-
tirely upon where the seed is obtain
ed, and the ability of the seed to re-
produce itself under the new condi-
lions. Vitality is one of the controll-
ing factors in this work. If pure
seed already acclimated can be found
in the vicinity, several years will be
saved by propagating from this seed.
In any case the object in view is to
select the best individuals, that is,
the high yielding, high quality stocks
that have grown under the saem con-
ditions to which the inferior plants
were subjected. By so doing you Sc
lect the individual because of its SUI
perior powers-ability to yield, pro-
duce good quality grain and to with
stand disease.
In the case of the cereal crops, one
good method for the farmer to pur-
sue is that Of field selection. This is
accomplished by picking the best
heads from superior plants as found
by walking through the field just be-
fore harvesting time. In this work Sc
lection should be confined to those
plants that show marked ability to
reproduce. Heavy stooling vigorous
plants with stems that stand W
against the force Of the elements
should be chosen. Pick all the heads
to one type. This should be carefully
done. as often in large fields from
two to a half dozen different types
may be found. Select rigidly for uni.
formity in shape of head, color OF
chaf. and if possible, quality OF
grain. which can be determined by
taking out a spikelet about the mid
die of the head.
1t is best to avoid all monstroci
ties, Irregularities, and freaks of any
kind.
The following year, a good method
TO follow if a little time and labor
can be spared from the regular work
is to plant the seed thus gathered il
rows. If this is not desirable isolated
Aeld planting will serve the purpose
low planting is productive Of better
results. however, as the plants car
he watched omre carefully, thus Sc
lecting the superior stocks more cas-
uv than under field conditions. Al
soon as vigorous plants that pro
duce well and of good quality are
secured they should be sowed fol
increase. In every case, however, this
seed should be put in clean groun'
that was not sowed to the same Oh
similar crops the previous year
In an actual test at the Colorado
experiment station one seed repro
duce dsuhciently to produce a 10
acre field in five years and at tina
the grain was famed the last three
years to eliminate the inferior grains
So it will be seen that the question
Of pure seed is not a hopeless one blu
on the contrary if handled properll
is productive Of better crops, bettei
farming and higher prices.
The experiment station is Away
willing to help you in this work. 1t ii
it's duty TO work with you and it 81
IN.