Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-08-07
tBy S. NJ. MILLER9

In growing corn for seed the farmer
must first find the variety best adapt
ed 10 his needs and then work to
bring II 10 near perfection as possible.
II is always best to select the varieties
grown on soil and in the climate
where the seed is TO be improved. be-
cause the corn plant is peculiarly SEN
sitive to its surroundings.
Corn that grows well on certain
soils will often, II transplanted to 9TH
er soils prove a failure, and the re-
verse Is true. That is TO say. corn
which shows up badly on certain soils,
may develop to perfection on other
soils that are rightly adapted to It's
needs.
This is a very important factor in
the selection of seed, and the breeder
should never go far from home for his
seed II he can possibly obtain good
corn that has been grown on soil and
in the climate in which he expects to
conduct bis breeding operation.
II he must send away for his seed,
however, he should select Il from that
locality which nearest approaches his
own. both as to soil and climate.
A great deal of poor seed-corn re-
suits from a lack of care in the har-
vesting and storing. 1t should be al
lowed to mature thoroughly before be-
Ing picked. as immature corn does
not obtain all the plantfood intended
for IT, consequently its vitality is
weakened.
Immature corn is hard TO keep, as IL
is liable to sprout and unless there is
good circulation Of air it will become
heated and moldy. Seed-corn should
always be selected from the field and
never from the load at the crib.
Selecting seed at the time of gener-
al harvest is Objectionable, because
many times the work is done late in
the season and In a hurry. and the
care Of seed-corn is apt 10 be neglect
ed
The stalks from which seed.ears are
selected should be of medium size.
strong at the base, tapering gradually
10 the tassel, and should have large
acknowledgment as the leaf is the
laboratory OF the plant. The stalk
should also stand erect and be free
from smut or insect attack.
Never select from stalks with suck
ers. Ears. to be of good size and quail
ity. should have straight rows of reg
ularly-sized kernels and which more
nearly represent the type desired.
These ears should be at convenient
height Of Az TO feet on the stalks.
and should be attached to the stalk
by shank medium in length and
strength
The ear when matured should break
over and hang from the tip downward
Ears in an upright position are objec-
tionable because they are more or less
subjected to the rains and hot sun.
which iniure the vitality.
Some experiments show that seed
from ears high on the stalk and In an
upright position. yield almost 10 bush
els less, per acre. than seed from ears
hanging In the natural position.
Ears growing high on the stalk and
in an upright position. when planted,
give stalks, a very high per cent. of
which bear ears in similar manner.
The first month after it has been
picked is the most critical time in the
handling of seed-corn As 1t contains
large amount Of moisture at. that
time. IL must be stored in a dry, well
ventilated place, and in such way
that each ear will be exposed TO free
circulation Of air. Seod-corD should
always be stored in the ear. but never
in barrels, boxes. or sacks, or above
large quantities of grain.
T.ere are many ways OF preserving
seed-eorn. as by striking the butts on
sharp nails driven through a board,
tying ears together in pairs and hang
ing them over a wire, or, by laying
them on racks. Any method that viii