Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1912-09-14
SEED CORN
Matter of Great importance to
the Farmer
Field Selection of Seed Corn Is the
Keynote to Successful Corn Breed,
Ing--Select the Ears in the Field

Keynote 10 0uCCesSiui SotH DIV
Inq-Select the Ears in the Field
(Reply to Jacob II, Marshburn, Cath
crime Lake, North Carolina)
We are delighted to know that you
are interested in the breeding of good
seed corn Next to the better and
more thorough 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 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"
It 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 your own corn.
First, select stalks that bear the
ears at a moderate height on the
stalks for the reasons that it 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 to
tassel.
Third, with large cared varieties,
no stalks that have more than two
ears 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 be broad
and strong, from twelve to sixteen in
number, and well distributed on the
stalk.
Fifth, the stalks should be we'll
anchored by numerous strong base
roots from one to two joints above
the ground to enable to withstand
J1
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
prevent fertilizat ton by inferior stalks
Seventh, the ear should be cylindri
cal or nearly so. 1t should be full
and strong in the middle portion and
mately three-quarters of its length
The shuck should be heavy and well
extended over the end of the ear and
closely gathered about the silk The
shank that bears the ear should be
long enough to permit the ear to droor
at maturity.
Eighth, from ten to thirty times as
many ears should be selected as will
be necessary to plant next years
crops.
Ninth, II 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 anC
select the necessary number of thu
best ears to plant in the spring. The
rows of kernels should be straight
and not less than sixteen nor more
than twenty-five in number. The cal
should be from eight to ten and a hal
inches long The color of grair
should be true to variety. White corr
should have white cobs and yellow
corn red cobs The tip should not BIZ
too tapering. It should he well covered
with straight rows of regular kernel!
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 shanl
IS removed. The tips of the kernels
should be full and strong, leaving nj
space between them near the cob
The kernels should be about five
sixteenths of an inch wide by five
eighths of an inch long, and about sil
to the inch in the row.
1t is a good plan to have specia
seed patch and plant say twenty-fv
of the best ears in this patch. Fac
ear should be planted in a row withou
mixing with any other ear. Twenty
five rows planted in this way Will b
sufficient for the average farmer. A
maturity, harvest each row separated
and weigh the yields. Select the ear
for next years seed patch from tn
rows that give the highest yields, an
the remaining portion of the rows G
highest yield are used for plantin
the field crop. And so the wor
should be continued from year to veal
: Nnurc vary truly