The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-08-31
SELECTING 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

NeJnoIe 10 SucCeSSfui NoFn bTcSu-
ins-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 blu.
We fully believe that the average yield
OF corn Ia 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"
II 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 az a moderate height on the
stalks for the reasons that IL 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 tanering from base to
tassel
Third, with large cared varieties,
no stalks that hive more than two
ears should be selected, and an effort
should be made TO select some stalls
that have two ears and some that have
one
Fourth the leaves should be broad
and strong, from twelve 10 sixteen In
number, and well distributed on the
stalk
Fifth, the stalks should be well
anchored by numerous strong. base
roots from one to two Joints above
the ground to enable 10 withstand
winds Stalks free from suckers
should be selected as far as possible.
sixth, detassel all weak stalks and
stalks growing only nubbns or no
ears at all Just before the silks begin
10 show in good number This will
prevent fertilization by inferior stalks
Seventh, the ear should be cyllndri.
cal or nearly so, II should be full
and strong in the middle portion and
the circumference should be approx
mately threequarters OF ifs length.
The shuok 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 10 droop
az maturity.
Eighth, from ten 10 thirty times as
many ears should be selected as will
be necessary TO plant next years
crops.
Ninth, It 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 and
select the necessary number OF the
best ears 20 plant in the spring The
rows OF kernels should be straight
and not less than sixteen nor more
shan twenty-five in number The ear
should be from eight TO ten and a hall
inches long. The color OF grain
should be true 10 variety. White corn
should have, white cobs and yellow
corn red cobS The tip should not be
too tapering II, should be well covered
with straight rdws Of regular kernels
OF uniform size hnd shape, The rows
Of kernels shouia. extend In regular
order over the butt end OF the cob
leaving a depression where the shank
Is removed. The tipF Of the kernels
should By full and strong, leaving nc
space between therh near the cob
The kernels should Ne about FIVE,
sixteenths OF an inch wide by five
eiehths Of an inch longt and about SIX
10 the inch In the row
II Il good plan 70 have a special