The Dickinson press., 1912-11-02
SELECTING SEED CORN
Matter Of Great Importance to
the Farmer

eJeIo selection OF SEED Corn 10 n
Keynote to Successful Corn Breed.
. Ins-select tho Ears In tho Field
(Reply to Jacob H. Marshburn, Cath
crime Lake. North Carolina.)
We are delighted to know that you
are interested in the breeding of good
seed corn. Next to the better and
more thorough preparation of the soil.
the proper selection and production of
seed corn 10 the work most needed in
the south. The variety tests at the
Experiment Stations show that Of
twelve of the leading varieties of corn
tested, the difference between the
higest and lowest yield per acre on
the same kind of soil with identical fer
dlization and cultivation was 1872 bu.
We fully believe that the average yield
Of corn in the south can be increased
more than twenty-five per cent by
planting prolific seed instead of seed
that has run out. Like produces
Nike"
1t will probably be best for you to
buy the best seed from some reput-
able breeder In your section and then
learn the best scientific methods to
further improve the seed. The buy
ing Of the best seed from some reput-
able breeder in your section will save
you several years Of labor and expense
in breeding up the seed. However,
you can, by following instructions,
rapidly breed up your own corn.
First, select stalks that bear the
ears at a moderate height on the
stalks for the reasons that it is diff.
cult to gather ears too high and the
stalk is apt to be top heavy and easily
blown down by winds.
Second, select stalks Of medium
size, gradually tapering from base to
tassel. ~
Third, with large cared varieties,
no stalks that have more than two
ears should be selected, and an effort
should be made to select some stalks
that have two ears and some that have
one.
Fourth, the leaves should be broad
and strong, from twelve to sixteen in
number, and well distributed on the
stalk.
Fifth, the stalks should be well
anchored by numerous strong base
roots from n to two joints above
the ground to enable to withstand
winds. Stalks free from suckers
should be selected as far as possible.
Sixth, detassel all weak stalks and
stalks growing only nubbins or no
oars at all just before the silks begin
to show in good number. This will
prevent fertilization by inferior stalks.
Seventh, the ear should be cylindri-
cal or nearly SO. It should be full
and strong in the middle portion and
the circumference should be approx
mately three-quarters of it's length.
The shuck should be heavy and we'll
offended over the end of the ear and
closely gathered about the silk. The
shank that bears the ear should be
long enough to permit the ear to droop
at maturity.
Eighth, from ten to thirty times as
many ears should be selected as will
be necessary to plant next years
crops.
Ninth, It is best to select and pick
the seed corn in the field before the
first frost. The seed ears should be
placed where they will be kept dry,
and where they will be protected from
damage by weevils, rats, etc.
Tenth, during the winter remove
the shucks from the ears of corn and
select the necessary number Of the
best ears to plant in the spring. The
rows of kernels should be straight,
I'M not less than sixteen nor more
than twenty-five in number. The ear
should be from eight to ten and a half
inches long. The color of grain
should be true to variety. White corn
should have white cobs and yellow
corn red cobs. The tip should not be
too tapering. It should be we'll covered
with straight rows Of regular kernels
of uniform size and shape. The rows
of kernels should extend in regular
order over the butt end of the cob,
leaving a depression where the shank
is removed. The tips of the kernels
should be full and strong, leaving no
space between them neal the cob.
The kernels should be about FIVE
%sixteenths of an inch wide by FIVE
eighths Of An inch long, and about six
to the inch in the row.
It T. a good plan to have a special
seed patch and plant say twenty-five
of the best ears in this patch. Each
ear should be planted in a row without
mixing with any other ear. Twenty
five rows planted in this way will be
sufficient for the average farmer. At
maturity, harvest each row separately
and weigh the yields. Select the ears
for next years seed patch from the
rows that give the highest yields, and
the remaining portion of the rows of
highest yield are used for planting
the field crop. And so the work
should be continued from year to year.
Yours very truly,
III c SERVICE BUREAU.