The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-11-29

One Per Cent Increased Value to the
Bushel Would Mean Additional In
come of $25,000,000.

Washington, November 27-Some
idea regarding the economic import
ance of corn may be had by real
ization that in the United States it
exceeds in acreage, yield and value,
wheat, oats, barley, flax, rye, buck
wheat and potatoes combined.
An increased value of / per cent
per bushel would mean an addition
al income to the farmers of the
United States of S25,000,O00, while
an increased production of but one
bushel per acre at SO cents per blu.
shell would add $50,000,O00 annually
to the national wealth.
In addition to its magnitude, the
crop is important because of the
wide range of industries in which
some portion of the corn plant plays
"a more or less important part. In
fact, it may almost be said that
there is no industry into which
some product or by-product Of tho
corn plant does not enter. There
FORE any conditions which effect
the production Of this king of crops
are of interest 10 every citizen OF
the United States.
Each spring many farmers dis
cover-when It is too late-that their
seed corn either fails to germinate
or produces but "a weak growth.
They must either pay high prices for
viable seed, which may or may not
be acclimated and adapted to their
conditions or by means OF laborioUs
tests they may pick out such of
their seed as will at least come
up"
The corn CROP of 1912 is now prac-
tically made end tho time for Sci.
Getting seed for 1919 has arrived IN
the southern sections and reached
even the latest sections of the
United States some time in October.
Unless sufficient seed corn is Sc
lected at the right time in the right
way there will be the same deplor-
7 able situation next spring-again
when it is too late, as there has
been at each previous planting time.
With very few exceptions the
best possible seed may be selected
on the farm on which it is to be
planted, and by carrying out the
| following instructions. issued by the
office of corn investigations of the
United States Department of agri-
culture each farmer may provide
himself with an abundance OF seed
of the highest productivity for plant
ing in 1913.
The process of seed selection is
of too great importance to be con-
Quoted incidentally while husking,
and in many localities if selection
! is delayed until husking time the
vitality of the seed will have al
ready been injured by an early
| freeze. AS soon, therefore, as the
crop ripens, go through the field
with bags and husk the ears from
those stalks which have produced
best without having had any spec
| ial advantages, such as space, moist
ure or fertility. Late maturing plants
with ears which are heavy because
of an excessive amount of sap
should be ignored
In the central and southern states,
other things being equal, short,
thick stalks are preferable. These
permit of thicker planting, are not
so easily blown down and are US
ually more productive than slender
ones The tendency to sucker is
hereditary. Other things being equal
seed should be taken from stalks
having no suckers.
The same day that the seed corn
| is gathered, the husked ears should
be put in dry place where there
| is good circulation of air, and plac-
| ed in such a manner that the ears
do not touch each other. If no pre-
vous arrangements for caring for
the seed have been made, the ears
may be suspended with binder
Irvine, trying them about 2 inches
apart. The twine will support fif-
| teen or twenty ears.
! If this method can not conven.
iently be followed, tables may be
improvised by placing boards across
boxes or barrels. These boards
should be dry and not too wide, and
should be spaced ] 1.2 inches apart.
| The seed ears can be put on these
! tables. using care to have them
spread out to insure circulation OF
air among them, 1t will be advis-
able to move the ears u couple OF
times at intervals of about two
days. when first put ON the tables.
! Whichever method is used. the
/ seed should be placed in q shed OF
building having a good circulation
of air, and where II will be protect
ed from rain and excessive cold, aa
well as from rats and mice.
Do not store the seed in cellar.
The driest cellars are too damp and
do not afford a free circulation OF
air. Do not store the seed In
room in which there will be vapor
I to condense on 1t and prevent its
drying, as in a barn over stock, or
/ in an clubhouse used for washing.
etc.
If seed corn is stored properly it
should be thoroughly dry in from
three weeks in the south to eight
weeks in the north, and II kept dry
| it will be safe from injury except
by insects and ,vermin. In the. north
the ears may be left where they
dried, In regions where seed corn
lis damaged by weevils or grain