Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1912-02-22
Test Each Ear
Of Seed Corn.


At the present time there is no ques-
tion OF as much Importance to the far
iner as the seed corn question. ny here
10 get a supply of seed corn that Will
show good termination and at the
same time is adapted to this locality.
By talks I have had with farmers
last fall and this winter, know that
the intention Is to plant three acres Of
corn where only one was planted last
year. 5sI8
During the winter ] have travelled
many miles through South Dakota
Minnesota, looking for good seed
corn, that was northern grown and
adapted to this locality, and will say
that found very little seed had been
saved by the farmers even in those
sections where large crops of corn
were. raised, and nearly every one who
had saved seed corn for their own use!
did not have as much as they would
need and were intending to buy more.
Those who have saved seed iii the
best possible manner have found upon
testing same that the test averaged
very poor running from 40 TO so per
cent. s
H ow to Solve Problems.
Now the question is. what is 10 be.
.lnpa r., no NJ II, ,,,f,.nx,,,., f3.,e,
tons? In the first place, secure your
seed as near home as possible, but if
you must send away for it, try and
get it from Minnesota or the northern
half of South Dakota, Are you aware
I! that the Missouri Bottoms from near
Elk Point to Yankton and for miles
above is one. of the best corn sections
| in the world, and seed corn from this
part of South Dakota is no more fit to
plant in Codington county than if it
had been raised in Illinois, or the
southern part Of Iowa Get it north
of the Iowa line either in Minnesota
or South Dakota and the farther
north the better, and as near home as
possible. If it is only fodder that you
| want then this southern corn is all
right, but don't look for any mature
ears.
Buy Corn on the Ear.
When you can get it on the ear, then
test each ear and every ear, and dis
card every one that shows poor germi-
nation. In this way you can take corn
that tests very poorly and get good
quality of seed. Shelled corn testing
very poorly must all be planted and
even though 50 per cent corn was
planted as thick again as you would
want to plant 100 per cent seed twill
make a very uneven stand, being too
thick in some hills, while others would
| have nothing, being a poor condition
in either case.
Don't send to some seed house and
pay a big price for some corn with a
big sounding name, and guaranteed to
be pure seed, SO per cent termination,
with testimonials from Tom, Dick
and Harry thrown in, and you not
| knowing where; it was grown, but go
to your neighbor who had good corn
last year and see If he has got any
to spare, and if he has, take some Of
Fit home and test it for yourself, end
| if the termination is satisfactory then
buy some and If he asks from $4 to Sc
a bushel for it you had better buy what
you want and not wait until planting
j time, hoping it will be little cheaper,
but take my word for it, the chances
are that you will not get it at any
price for there will be none.
Seed Getting Scarce
| will make this prediction: that. by
the first of May there will not be
bushel of corn for sale that will be
suitable for planting in Codington
| county
Z
have savea their own seed; you went
into the field and selected your corn
at the proper time, you hung 1t up to
dry in a good place and took the same
care of it that you always did, and
you never have failed to get good
seed corn; maybe it is good this year,
but don't you take any chances. Test
every ear and you will have the sur
prise of your life, for you will find
that the corn you would be willing to
guarantee all right in an ordinary
year. will this year show very poor
termination.
Test Your seed corn, test 1t on the
ear, and plant home grown, or north
| ern grown seed.
respectfully. II
1 -l