Mountain advocate. (Barbourville, Ky.) 1904-1935, 1912-09-27
Timely Seed Corn Hints


Of the members of agricultu rial
clubs, but also OF the general farm
ers, called to the Importance Of get.
ting a good supply Of seed corn tor
next year. The fate Of next years
corn crop will be largely determined
by the action taken by the farmer
within the next few days Seed
corn testing is highly important,
and should not be neglected, but it
is we'll to remember that unless seed
corn is properly cared for, the test
next spring will only reveal the sad
fact that the seed corn is very poor
a n d that a perfect stand cannot be
assured
There are a good many things to
take into consideration in selecting
seed corn. These points concern
not only the ear itself but the stalk
upon which it was grown; hence it
| is desirable that the seed corn
should be selected from the field be
fore the corn is cut il possible
Seed corn should be selected in the
fall Just as it is coming to maturity.
Select well developed ears growing
upon well developed and vigorous
stalks, and of the same maturity.
Mark them and allow them to ma
ture. DO not select large ears from
stalks that have grown in hills by
themselves, that have been eX
tremely favored in the way o rich
spots or have been favored in re-
gard to moisture present, but prefer
those that have produced most
heavily when growing under aver
age conditions. Other things being
equal, select ears from short, thick
stalks rather than from tall slender
ones, as the latter are more likely to
be blown down. Never select an
ear that is extremely long of shank,
but rather select one OF a medium
shank with the tip pointing down
ward at an angle of about 40 de-
gress. Prefer ears that do not have
a gross. coarse, heavy husk.
Those boys and girls clubs that
have come under the direction of the
State University Extension Division
of the College of Agriculture have
noticed that they were designated
agricultural clubs" and not corn
clubs" The reason for this is that
boys and girls clubs in their respcc-
tive counties should be fixed organ
izations through which many good
things may be taught to them and
other people, the club itself being a
working factor to put into opera
ton those things proposed by the
director of the work, In this con.
nection hand book of instruction
has been prepared tor these clubs,
; including certain definite exercises il
corn growing. animal husbandry
dairying, horticulture, poultry, po
tato growing and domestic science
The work of instructing and look
ing after these clubs has recently
been provided for on better basis
than ever before, and as good a:
our work has been in the past it is
hoped that it may be made better
in the near future Under the new
arrangement the extension work o.
the University has been divided
into three sections, all operating
under one head. The boys and
girls club work has been assigned
as a division to DR.. Fred Mutchler
Of Bowling Green, Kentucky, sta
toned at the Western Normal
School.
Cooperation is now being lent by
the Federal Government and by
various individuals and corpora
tons interested. Letters regarding
club work should be sent t. Dr..
Mutchler directly.
No club should neglect this year
to have a good show of various
farm products, as the crops have
been fine. Assistance in such under.