The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1912-09-26
SELECTING SEED CORN
Matter Of Great Importance to
the Farmer

Field Selection Of Seed Corn Is thsl
Keynote to Successful Corn Breed
8. ing-select the Ears in the Field
(Reply to Jacob Fl. Marshburn. Cath
crime Lake, North Carolina.)
We are delighted to know that yol !
are interested in the breeding OF COCO
seed corn. Next to the better ano
more thorough preparation Of the soil
the proper selection and production oil
seed corn is the work most needed in
The south. The variety tests at this
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
tilization 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
like"
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 our own corn.
First, select stalks that bear the
ears at a moderate height on the
stalks for the reasons that 1t 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 tc
tassel.
Third. with large cared varieties
no stalks that have more than two
ars 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 he broad
and strong. from twelve to sixteen il
number, and we'll distributed on tn,
stalk.
Fifth. the stalks should be vel
anchored by numerous strong bas'
roots from n to two joints abov'
the ground to enable to Withstand
winds. Stalks free from sucker
should be selected as far as possible.
Sixth, detassel all weak stalks an
stalks growing only nubbins or n
ears at all just before the silks begi
TO show in good number. This wi
prevent fertilization by inferior stalk.
Seventh, the ear should be cylindr
cal OF nearly SO. 1t should be flu.
and strong in the middle portion an
the circumference should be approx
mately t~hree-quarters Of it's Length
The shuck should be heavy and we
extended over the end of the ear an
closely gathered about the silk. TIL
shank that bears the ear should b
long enough to permit the ear to droo
at maturity.
Eighth, from ten to thirty times 2
many ears should be selected as wi
be necessary to plant next year
crops.
Ninth. II is best to select and pic
the seed corn in the field before IL
first frost. The seed ears should
placed where they will be kept DIR
and where they will be protected fro
damage by weevils, rats. etc
Tenth. during the winter reno,
the shucks from the ears of corn al
select the necessary number Of II
best ears to plant in the spring. tt
rows OF kernels should be straigt
and not less than sixteen nor mo
than twenty-five in number. The e.
should be from eight to ten and a ha
inches long. The color of gra
should be true to variety. White co
should have white cobs and yellc
corn red cobs. The tip should not
too tapering. 1t should be we'll cover,
with straight rows Of regular kerne
Of uniform size and shape. The no,
Of kernels should extend in regul
order over the butt end Of the &C
leaving a depression where the shal
IL removed. The tips of the kerns
should be full and strong. leaving
space between them near the CT
The kernels should be about d,
sixteenths Of an inch wide by f,
eighths Of an inch long, and about
TO the inch in the row.
It u a good plan to have a spec
seed patch and plant say twenty-f
of the best ears in this patch. Es
ear should be planted in a row with
mixing with any other ear. Twen
Ave rows planted in this way will
sufficient for the average farmer.
maturity, harvest each row separat
and weigh the yields. Select the G
for next years seed patch from
rows that give the highest yields.
the remaining portion OF the rows
highest yield are used for plant
the field crop. And SO the VI
should be continued from year to "
Yours very truly,
lHC SERVICE BUREAU
WHAT WE NEVER FORGET