Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-04-18

! all danger from frost
| The same conditions prevailed last
autumn and seed corn kept in "cool
airy place" did not dry. there being a
great deal Of wet weather and an ex-
cess of moisture in the atmosphere.
But Professor Holden, again quoting
from his bulletin on seed corn. says,
IF corn is placed in 9 warm room
while it still contains a large amount
! of moisture it is almost certain to
either mould or grow. For this reason
corn should be dried in cool airy
place."
| One would think that the experience
Of the last nine years would convince
any one not altogether ohtuse or pre-
/ JUDGED, 10. 70 have now had enough
Of the "cooI airy place" in saving seed
corn.
In 1904, 1907, 1910 and again in 1912.
the cool airy place has been the ruin
| of seed corn.
Having invariably gathered my seed
corn early, often when only hard roast
ing ears in a late season. in an expert
ence Of fifty years I never saw an ear
of my seed corn growing. Neither did
4 ever see an ear growing at our state
institutions during the twelve Years I
had charge Of the farms, and very
rarely even a noldy ear. that can be
easily rejected when removing the tip
and butt kernels from the ears, before
Smelling
Professor Holden. in the bulletin
from which 1 quote, also recommends
that corn intended for seed should be
We'll matured before it is selected and
he writes. Corn left on the stalk has
the advantage of a free circulation of
air. and at the same time the huslls
protect it from the sun and rain And
he adds that field cured corn presents
brighter and more healthy appear
ance than that dried by artificial
means"
The whole tenor of Professor Hold
ems teaching is to decrv artificial heat
in saving seed corn. when, in fact, it
is what gives left TO the kernel. and
insures strong termination, and there
is not today in Iowa a single farmer
who gathered his seed corn early and
fire dried it promptly after gathering
and kept it dry and warm, that ever
replanted a single hill on account Of
poor seed But the fearful loss to our
people has resulted from follow
ing Professor Holden's advice. when he
says, that corn allowed to fully ma
ture on the stalk gives the best re-
suits"
Here again Professor Holden is in
error for all seed is Of stronger vital
| ity If secured before 1t is fully matured'
and this rule applies not only to plants
but to the animal kingdom, and also to
| the human family.
1 With short SeaEoN for corn "
have in Iowa and the risk Of an early
frost as we had in 1910. the only sure
method to secure good seed corn Is TO
select early, and not wait for full ma
| turity, for too often those who thus
wait pay dearly for their folly In fol-
lowing such advice.
But Professor Holden and the seed
corn experts at our State College of
/ Agriculture have a remedy for q fail
ure to save seed corn in a proper man
ner, and a seed corn tester Is on the
market for the use OF those who have
| followed the instructions given by the
college in regard to saving seed corn.
The Cause Of the Astounding Loss.
| Where an epidemic Of typhoid fever
| occurs. while the first care must be to
the sick, every effort is made to ascer-
unless the cause is found and proper
precautions taken, the disease may go
on Indefinitely.
! In like manner, while endeavOring by
testing of seed corn to obtain the best
possible termination, we should ascer
tain the cause Of the present trouble
and prevent a recurrence of present
conditions. And while with typhoid
| it might be difficult to determine the
real cause, fortunately in the matter Of
seed corn the cause is readily found by
| those who have full knowledge in re-
gard to the proper method of saving
seed corn.
| Following dry summer the autumn
| Of 1911 was wet and cold, and corn
did not dry we'll in the field. and the
! practice altogether too common of
\