Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-10-08
SELECT YOUR SEED CORN NOW.

A proclamation was recently issued W
the governor OF Minnesota, setting aside
one whole week as Seed Corn Week,
during which he advised every farmer
to drop all other work and give his at
tention solely TO The selection Of seed
ears Of corn for next years crop, and
preparing II for keeping until next plant
ing time. This on the theory that the
corn crop of next year is made by select
ing the seed this year.
Farmers were advised to 60 carefully
through their corn fields and select spec
linen ears TO save for seed, and not 10
trust any Of the old methods where care
and judgment cannot be exercised. The
farmer is also advised to put in next
spring a special seed patch separate from
the main field, giving it special cultiya-
ton, selecting from the patch in the eall
the seed for the coming year All Of
which is excellent advice, and If the
farmers of Minnesota heed their gov
ernor and observe Seed Corn Week, the
corn yield of that state will be much
larger the next and succeeding years
than it was this year
This advice to the farmers Of Mime
sofa is also applicable to the farmers cf
Tennessee. IT, by careful seed selection
and proper cultivation, the corn fields
OF Tennessee can be made to produce only
five more bushels per acre next year
than they do in year Of average pro-
duction, il means an increase in produc-
ton for the state of something like 25,-
100000 bushels of corn, which would be
worth, even in a year of bountiful crops,
at least S13,0OO0O0. Think of what
that would mean to the state-then
think how easy it can be accomplished.
II farmer had fifty acres in corn,
1t would mean to him an increase in
productions of ESQ bushels. This FIVE
bushel increase is small compared to
what is possible through careful seed
selection, proper preparation Of the soil
and proper cultivation. If the farmer
will be more careful in the selection of
his seed corn, he will be glad of it as
long as he grows corn.
Last year the average yield of the
state of Tennessee was less than 20
bushels of corn to the acre. 1t should
be at least so bushels, as it is on some
of the best farms of the state, and as it
can easily be made on the others. The
factors necessary to increase the yield
In this state are: Better quality of seed
corn, increased fertility of the land
through rotation of crops and use of
manures, and thorough preparation of
the ground and better system of cul
tivation.
No attempt will be made in this article
to 90 into the ways of testing seed corn
That will be touched on in a future
article. 1t requires no technical knowl
edge to select the best developed ears
those that are well filed at both ends
Now is the time to begin the selection
of seed corn for next spring. Ii has been
the slipshod custom of many farmers tC
either get their seed corn from the Grill
after the winter feeding or else get il
from some neighbor who probably takes
it from the same source.
Now is the time for the farmers Of
Tennessee TO begin their seed corn Sc
lection. A good way is, when gathering
the corn, to have a box or barrel in The
wagon and into this put every ear o.
more than ordinary good size and shape
Later this can be gone over again, and q
thorough examination made, discardinG
those that show any defects. This il
an easy method and is much better thar
taking what is left in the crib at plant
ing time. However, if you win go into
the field before the crop is harvested
and select the ears with care, you viii
be more likely to get the best than you
would be if you waited until the rusl
and hurry that comes with harvesting
This is a matter that should be at
tended to by every farmer who intends
to raise corn next year. 1t will be on,
of the best investments of his time h,
can make, and if this advice is generally
needed, the corn production of Tennessee
will be increased next year by many mil
lion bushels.