The Dickinson press., 1913-12-06
INDIVIDUALITY OF
SEED DISCUSSED
Influence Of HeredIty Strong In.
Plant Life.
how TO SELECT the BEST
'ey c. .. GURsLEE, Graduate Of
South Dakota State coIiene.)

10y c. B. GuRsLEE, Graduate Of
South Dakota State coIiees.)
A bin of grain may be compared to
a herd Of cattle. and superior individ.
auls may be selected from the bin OF
grain Is we'll as from the herd Of cat
tie. Individual kernels of grain vary
as much in ability of production as do
individual animals. The heavy, plump
seeds were produced in most cases
upon the strongest and most vigorous
plants, and the light, shrunken seeds
from the weaker. less vigorous plants.
That like produces like" is a we'll
known fact in plant breeding. The
influence of heredity is as strong in
plant life as in animal life. Improve.
ments can be effected only by eliminat-
ing the poorest and breeding for the
strongest individuals. Hence, there is
as much reason for selecting good in
dividual seed of grain as for select
ing good individual animals.
A-plump, heavy kernel of grain will
produce a stronger plant and nourish
1t better than will a shrunken, light
kernel. This fact has been demon
strated beyond doubt by testing the
yield from light and heavy seeds.
Being convinced of the value of
good seed the question now arises:
How may a farmer select good seed
In a practical manner? Every field or
bin Of grain has kernels in it which
differ in producing power; some are
good, some are poor. 1t is only the
best that is wanted for seed. There
are two principles by which grain can
be separated in ordinary tanning mills,
namely, by weight and by size Of
kernel. The large, heavy kernels will
most likely be comparatively free
from foul seeds, and an increased
yield from two to ten bushels per
acre may be expected.
It often happens that in a field of
grain parts of the field produce grain
of a better quality than. do other parts.
This may be due to the condition Of
the soil, to rust or to lodging. 1t will
often pay to cut and thresh these best
patches by themselves and keep this
seed by itself from which to separate
grain for sowing. Unless very care
full methods of selecting seed from
these patches are followed better re.
suits can not be expected than from
the similar method of selection by the
use of the tanning mill.
Grain to be used for seed should be
allowed to fully mature. Ig 1t is neces-
sary to harvest grain a little green
it should be carefully shocked and
capped to allow the seed to fill. It is
preferable to let grain go through the
sweat in the stack, instead of risk
ing Its heating in the bin. Store seed
where 1t can be kept dry and unmixed
and do not allow it to heat. ~
Smutty seed can be SO treated as to
kill the smut pores and not affect
the vitality Of the seed, thus the sue
ceeding grain crops will be practical
ly free from smut. There are a num-
Der of chemicals that will kill smut,
but the formaldehyde treatment is
recommended as being the cheapest
and easiest applied and least danger
GUS to use. The formaldehyde
treatment will kill the shrinking smut
of wheat and the loose smut Of oats.
It will not rid wheat or barley of
loose smut. Treating seed corn for
corn smut does no good. Corn smut
spreads rapidly If the smut balls are
thrown on the manure pile and the
manure is spread on the corn fields.
The only way to decrease the amount
Of smut in corn is to pluck of the
smut balls and burn them.
Running out" of varieties, is due
to careless selection of seed grain
and poor tilling rather than to natural
causes which deteriorate the variety.
BY reserving the best piece of grain
on the farm for seed and by the use
of the tanning mill and grain grader,
the yield can be increased and a va
riety made ore valuable to the local
fly. Buying seeds every few years
from regions having different soils
and climate, is unwise..
The farmer. who saves his own
seed grain, providing it is pure, and
who increases the weight per bushel
as much as possible with q good
tanning mill, has a much better
chance Of harvesting a good crop In
the fall than the purchaser Of seed
that has very likely been produced
under conditions very different from
those which prevail in his own local
ity.
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