The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1912-09-14
SELECTING SEED CORN

We are delighted to know that you are
interested in the breeding of good seed
corn. Next to the better and more thor
ough preparation of the soil, the proper
selection and production of seed corn Is
the work most needed in the south. The
variety tests at the Experiment Stations
show that of twelve of the leading var
ieties of corn tested, the difference be-
tween the highest and lowest yield per
acre on the same kind of soil with iden
tical fertilization and cultivation was
1872 bushel. 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
like"
1t will probably be best for you to buy
the best seed from some reputable breed
er in your section and then learn the
best scientific methods to rurther i'm
prove the seed. The buying of the best
seed from some reputable 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.
at a moderate height on the stalks for
the reasons that it is difficult 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
l -
| 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 num-
| Der, and we'll distributed on the stalk
Fifth, the stalks should be well an
chorel by numerous strong base roots
| from one 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 ears
at all just before the silks begin to
show in good number This will prevent
| fertilization by inferior stalks.
Seventh, the ear should be cylindrical
or nearly so. 1t should be full and
strong in the middle portion and the
circumference should be approximately
| three quarters of its length. The shuck
| should be heavy and well extended owe,
| the end of the ear and closely gathered
| about the silk. The shank that bears
| the ear should be long enough to per-
| nit the ear to droop at maturity.
Eighth from ten to thirty rtnes a.
many ears should be selected as Win 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 kerr
nels should be straight, and not less
| than sixteen nor more than twenty-five o
| in number. The ear should be from eight
| to ten and 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 snouru not be
| too tapering. 1t 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
| depression where the shank Is re-
moved The tips of the kernels should
| be full and strong, leaving no space be-
| tween them near the cob. The kernels
should be about e-sixteenths of an
inch long, and about six to the inch in