Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-10-25
HOW TO SELECT SEED CORN.
Good Advice From Expert Investi'


gators.
Some idea regarding the economic
Importance Of corn may be had by a
realization that in the United States 1t
exceeds in acreage, yield and value,
wheat, oats, barley, fax, rye, buck
wheat and potatoes combined.
An increased value Of l cent per
bushel would mean an additional in
come to the farmers Of the United
States Of twenty-five million dollars,
while an increased production Of but
one bushel per acre at so cents per
bushel would add fifty million dollars
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, 1t may
almost be said that there is no indus
try into which some produce or by
product of the corn plant does not en-
ter. Therefore, any conditions which
affect the production Of this king OF
crops are of interest to every citizen
Of the United Stats.
| Each spring many farmers discover
when it is too late-that their seed
corn either fails to germinate or pro-
duces but a weak growth. They eth
er pay high prices for available 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, and the time for select
ing seed for 1913 has arrived in the
southern sections, and will reach even
the latest sections of the United States
some time in October. Unless suffi-
cient seed corn is selected at the right
time in the right way. there will be
the same deplorable situation next
spring-again when 1t is too late-as
there has been at each previous plant
ing 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 instruc-
tions, issued by the office Of corn in
vestigations, of the United States de-
partment Of agriculture, each farmer
may provide himself with an abund-
ance of seed of the highest produc-
tivity, for planting in 1913.
The process Of seed selection Is OF
too great importance to be conducted
incidentally while husking, and In
many localities II selection Is delayed
until husking time, the vitality of the
seed will have already 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 the
best without having had any special
advantages, such as space, moisture or
fertility. Late maturing plants with
ears which are heavy because Of an
excessive amount of sap should be ig-
nored.
| 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 usually more pro-
ductive than slender ones. The ten
dency to sucker is hereditary. Other
things being equal seed should be TAX
en- from stalks having no suckers.
The same day that the seed corn is
gathered, the husked ears should be
put in a dry place where there is good
circulation Of air, and placed in such
manner that the ears do not touch
each other. If no previous arrange
ments for caring for the seed have
been made the ears may be suspended
with binder twine, tying them about
two inches apart. The twine will sup
port fifteen or twenty ears
If this method cannot conveniently
be followed, tables may be improvised
by placing boards across boxes or bar
rels. These boards should be dry and
not too wide, and should be spaced
one or one and a half inches apart.
The seed ears can be put on these ta-
bles, using care to have them spread
out to insure good circulation Of air
among them. It will be advisable to
move the ears a couple Of times at in
tervals of about two days, when first
put on the tables.
Whichever method Is used, the seed
should be placed in a shed or building,
Having a good circulation Of air, and
where it will be protected from rain
and excessive cold, as well as from
rats and mice.
dryest cellars are too damp and do not
afford a free circulation Of air. Do not
store the seed in a room in which
there will be vapor to condense on 1t
and prevent it's drying, as in a barn
over stock or an clubhouse used for
washing, etc.
If seed corn is stored properly 1t
should be thoroughly dry in from
three weeks in the south to eight
weeks in the north, and II kept dry 1t
will be safe from injury except by in
sects and vermin. In the north the
ears may be left where they were
dried. In regions where seed corn Is
damaged by weevils or grain moths
it should be packed as directed in Far
mers' Bulletin AIS. entitled "Seed
Corn"
BY the proper selection and care OF
!: seed corn, as outlined above, the yield
may be greatly increased with but a
slight additional expense. Increases
J of eighteen bushels per acre. due to
properly preserving the seed, have
been obtained.
In every phase Of present day agri-
culture the tendency Is toward eff
cheney. The days of large profits un-
, der profiigate methods have passed
and there is no cheaper or easier way
of increasing the profits from the farm
, than by properly selecting and caring
!, for your seed corn.
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