Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-12-13
SELECTING SEED CORN.

The following intelligent and COM
prehensive instructions for the selec-
ton Of seed corn for exhibition pur-
poses are according to Prof. Gardner.
thoroughgoing expert on the sub
ject, and they will prove Of interest
and value to corn-growers In this To-
cality:
It has been claimed by some, that
the success Of some corn breeders has
been due not so much to their ability
to produce high yields as to their
ability to select winning show sam
Piles. Now, while high yield Of corn
is of primary Importance to the farm
er, the ability to select good show
samples should not be slighted in al.
way.
In selecting a sample, the main idea
to keep in mind is uniformity. Uni
formity of shape, size, color, and In
DENTON in one sample will often win
over another sample which contains
a lot of very good individual ears
which are not alike.
See that the ears are Of as nearly
the same length and circumference as
possible. Discard those ears that are
not cylindrical in shape, that Is, see
that they are round and taper as lit
tie as possible from the butt to tip.
Color has reference to both the grains
and cobs. In a sample Of white corn
see that there are no yellow grains or
red cobs (unless 1t be a red cobbed,
white variety. which Is Unusually. In
a yellow variety see that there are no
white grains or white cobs. In fact,
even a pink cob Is Objectionable in
yellow corn. The deep yellow cob Is
preferred. The matter Of cobs is even
carried further than Is indicated in the
above sentences, for 1t Is desirable to
have the ears of the sample Of same
shade of white or yellow, as the case
may be.
BY indention we mean the wrinkled
portion of the top Of the grains. See
that the ears are Of the same rough
ness or smoothness in this respect.
A very sharp grained ear Is undesir-
able, so also Is a very smooth grained
ear.
The next thing to consider Is the
individual ears in the sample. Select
only those which are straight. Have
the rows of grains running straight
up and down the ear. Have the rows
of grains running uniformly and even
ly out over the butts and tips and to
such an extent that the tip Is entire
ly covered with grains and that cup
SndpeQ cavity Is lOTHleu dt the Dull,
where the ear Is fastened on the stalk;
and be sure to see that the spaces be-
tween the rows of grain are as narrow
as possible. Finally, see that the ears
are solid, that is, they should be so
firm that you cannot twist them in
your hands or move them with your
fingers.
Now, take your knife and remove
from the ears all pieces Of husks and
silks. Cut out the portion Of the stalk
that remains attached to the corn at
the butt end. Scrape all the portions
of the cob that you cut with the knife
so that the cut Is left clean and smooth.
Wrap each ear separately in a piece
of newspaper and pack carefully in
a box. If you are so fortunate as to
be able to arrange your sample in
the show room, put the longest ear on
the right and the next longest to II
and on down, having the shortest ear
on the left Of the sample.
Do not kick If the judges don't
give your sample first place. but try
to select better sample next time.