The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-09-28
SELECTION OF
CORN FOR SEED
PROF. n. /. 5oLLEY GIVES PUB
Lie SOME INFORMATION ON
THE sURJEcT-HIs COMMUNE.
CATION WRITTEN BEFORE LAST
NIGHTS FROST.

To The Forum: Professor Hayes Of
the East Grand Forks schools has
asked a question of extreme import
ance to every farmer in North Dakota.
n, therefore, take the liberty without
waiting to ask him the privilege, of
copying his letter. I make my answer
just as definite as I'M one is justified
In making it, that you may, If you
wish, publish it for the benefit of your
readers.
This has been a very unfortunate
fall, but 1t costs so little time to get
out into a corn field to select sufficient
ears of corn Ito plant next seasons
crop, that the farmer whose real sue
cess depends on whether corn is on
his land or not, cannot justify him
self for having accumulated his seed
corn from his field, or IL not having a
field himself, in buying permission
from his neighbor to select from mis-
field. One can count on from fifteen to
thirty ears per acre as furnishing an
abundance of seed.
As to maturity, many, farmers do not
know that immature corn will germiu-
ate ~Splendidly If 1t is properly dried.
I have, every year for a number of
years, been growing southern corn in
acclimation experiments, in which the
~ - W ~ 20 VILE AANTSN
that / nave never. been able to get
the grains further than the dough
stage. These grains, when properly
dried, terminate freely, though. of
course, not SO strongly as when more
thoroughly mature. e
East Grand Forks, MINI. Prof. H. L.
Bolley, Agricultural college, Fargo, n.
D.-Dear Sir: Please tell me If in
| your opinion seed corn will be fit to
| nirk nnI ca va affnJs tho enx,nrn epnNy
storm now falling over the Red river
valley. Our own corn was just COM
ing out of the milk stage into the dent
stage n l think a vast amount OF
the corn around here is no further
along. The snow begun early this
morning and has been showing hard
UP -until~at this time, 9:15 a. m, There
is about one inch to one and one-half
inches on the ground. 1t is wet and
cold and all evidences seem to be that
it will get colder. ..
The corn stalks and leaves ere
weighted down badly and both are
very green. Yours truly,
A. w. Hayes.
Mr.. A. w. Hayes-Dear Sir: Corr
is very delicate, but in my opinion, un-
less the weather turns sufficiently colo
to bring the thermometer down to, SAL
% to "a, and possibly 26, for quite
u pSl lOu VI lllllC, IL the SOIH Is plCh'
ed in the husk, brought into dry room
where it will not dry too rapidly, bu
yet sufficiently rapid to prevent mold.
ing in the husk il will be found t.
terminate in good shape, if kept from
further freezing.
A real freezing of the grains, 0
course, results In death, but dry freeH
ing is worse than wet freezing for tn,
reason that there is time for cellula,
I l. =. 4l~ T. N--
withdrawn under the drying process
mentioned.
E My advice to farmers would be {,
get into the field Immediately ar
bring in as MANY Of the ears as show
yellow husks either inside or outside
Bring in as many as they have dryinj
room for in which to hang up the ear
on wire or rope racks.
In this manner, they may easily, a
small cost. take a chance. at havinI
4 good seed corn and lose only thei
labor should freezing be harder tina
/ expect.
Under no circumstances, should
farmer allow even mature corn to be
come frozen before ii is dry. I thin
that immature orr dried in the man
ner indicated is likely to give as goo
termination as thoroughly mature
corn which has been once dried. the
wet. then frozen.
> My personal belief is that unless
heavy freeze occurs this week, ther
is yet time for the farmers in Mort
l Dakota to save enough seed corn, t
plant the biggest sort of acreage 20
next year. OF course, it must be don
=, Immediately. So far as seed is con
l cerned the crop is not apt to great
improve, as a frost is not apt to occu
now without much injury. Your
s truly, H.. -.. H, L. Bolley.