The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-09-13
=. SEED CORN
BY O. D. CENTER
The Better Farming Expert For Grand Forks County
will result in better crops, higher feed
ing values and increased profits from

eAAS SSsAANS ohAN l1kSkS d0Gu pIOlIk0 IVOJn
this crop.
Many think 1t necessary to send
away for seed corn in order to secure
something that will be especially good
for their conditions. Those who do
this are often disappointed with their
hrst years results. 1t takes some time
Tor corn to become acclimated to its
new conditions. Therefore, as e
eral rule. the corngrower can make
greater progress by selecting seed corn
from his own fields than he can by
sending to a distance for varieties that
may not be suited to his conditions.
The selection Of choice seed from the
nome elds Is the simplest method Of
making n most rapid progress In
~corngrowing. This insures seed acclt.
mated to the soil, season and condi-
tions which it will be grown. lntelli-
gent selection for q period of three or
-four years will surprise one with the
rapid gain that can be made. In any
event select sufficient We'll matured
seed this fall to plant a seed orr plat
next This plat may be an acre
or two acres in size and a be used az
the basis of future selections for n
eral planting.
How to Select Seed.
The best e can only be selected
from the standing stalks. The easiest
method of selecting seed from the field
IS to sling a bag over the shoulder
having the mouth well in front but
at the left side. One can then pass
between the rows Of corn n easily
and quickly make the desired selec-
lions. II two-thirds of a nail key
hoop is firmly tackled in the mouth Of
the sack, 1t will q v time and make
it much easier to drop the selected
ears into the bag. With this bag or
with a basket. II preferred. go into the
best par of the field and select such
seed ears as are most mature, Ma
turity is indicated by brown, dry
silks. the husks Of the ear turning
yellow and by the tendency Of the ear
to hang tip downward. Ears ON long
shanks however. should be avoided.
Select the mature ears from vigorous
appearing. upright, well-rooteds stalks.
These stalks should have many broad
leaves. for the leaves form the food
factory of the plant. A large number
OF broad leaves indicates a good big
food factory. therefore a strong grain.
10 not select seed ears that grow too
close to h ground r thse that are too
high on the stalk. The height of the
ear from the ground can be changed
and regulated by seed selection. 1t i'm
portant that the ear should be high
enough SO that the crop can be han
died with a corn binder. The. place
OF the ear on the stalk. the form Of
the ear and the strength of the plant
are Characteristics that are handed
down from the parent plant through
the grain to the next crop. The corn
plant transmits both good and bad
characters just as animals do. Good
characters to look for and select are
the upright. stalky, well-rooted, leafy
plant: ears that r mature, we'll fiji.
ed. of good form. and that are produce
tive about midway of the stalk. These
characters can be noted only when
seed selection is made from the stand
ing stalks. When early selection and
picking is done they are easily observ.
ed. The stalk producing the seed ear
IS a mother plant that has impressed
the seed ear. The value of using pure
bred sires or dams IN, breeding up a
ed. These facts, tSEaas Kifsse SOCK
breeding are Just as truly concerning
farm crops. There il no crop with
which this plan Of Improvement can
be applied so surely, easily and eco.
nomically as with the corn crop. Good
motners should be selected for the
eorn nelds Just as they would be Sc
lected for hogs, horses or cattle.
In selecting, there will be found q
great difference in ear maturity on
equally good stalks. The early matur.
ing ears will produce corn of like sort.
IN this a great progress toward de-.
sirable corn for North Dakota can be
made. Good selection Of seed ears
cannot be made from the shock or
from the field late in the fall, since It |
Is impossible to tell the time of ear
maturity. Corn left unhusked until
Iaye. Whofhar nm fhn ot~0Ir - T. A.
chock, cannot properly dry out for
seed. The husks prevent the moisture
from drying out rapidly and thorough
~ n as a consequence the grain Is
usually frozen either before n is
nusked or else before thoroughly dry
after being husked.
How Much Seed.
There is little likelihood of saving
too much seed corn. Twice as much
see as Will be needed for next sea-
to select this fall. This will give an
opportunity for a farther selection of
the best individual ears as well as a
chance to type the seed corn and thus
secure a superior product, On an ay-
erage 120 well selected ears will make
a pushel OF shelled corn. This means
II requires about fifteen seed ears
OF average size to plant one acre.
knowing the number of acres which |
may De planted. it is cas- to save the
plus of good seed can usually he sold
at a good price: From 81 to IS per
Dusnei 1or seed corn is a common
price. Too much emphasis cannot be
'alo on the importance of saving q
quantity Of seed, as this
enables n to more closely Observe
me important points in tipping the seed
ana VII! enable a more rapid progress
toward better corn.
Essentials Of Good Ear.
n important points to bear In
is of higher feeding value han IL.
same amount OF immature. II Ia much
easier to store. 1t is worth more per
bushel m is always higher in vita iitv
d adverse conditions. In renerai
the larger tho cob and deeper the ksr'
nei' the longer 1t will require an ear
10 nature Immaturity q shown Nv
natnnes l%ooseness Of grain on cob
n oy light weight. CO Size and
lofm OF ears: 1t is not the large ear
u corr mat 10 always desirable. Well
are generally more productive and NJ
ron vitality. In shape the or
carry it's butt size well to the
tip. have straight. regular rows of
even-sized kernels, and be free from
Irregularities. (3) Filling. The more
completely filled the cob over hoth
putt n tip with large size denied
kernels. the more desirable the ear.
otner points being equal. "a Depth
Lno type OF nernels. For most corn a
wedge-shapcd kernel is desir-
vary with the variety. The kernel
be an long an ,u,s,, ,,.t..S