The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-09-03
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 3, 1918.
SEED CORN SELECTION.

AT the present time Thomas Cooper,
head OF the Better Farming associa-
ton Of North Dakota Is bonding every
effort toward getting the farmers OF
the state interested in seed corn
selection. The value of proper seed
selection in building UP the value of
this crop Is just becoming appreciated
throughout the nation, and North
Dakota, which is just getting a start
in raising corn, should start right by
taking advantage OF the very best
seed that can be raised.
The following from The St. Louis
Globe Democrat contains much Naiu-
able information about seed corn
selection which is particularly time
ly:
Taking a leaf out Of the book Of
Missouri, the governor OF Minnesota
has issued a proclamation setting
aside a whole week as seed corn week,
During that week he advises every
farmer to drop all other work and
devote his time and that Of his hired
men to the selection OF seed for next
years corn crop. Having selected 1t
according to the directions given him
by the experts Of the college Of aEri~
culture, the farmer is then 10 cure 1t
and store II according to further dt-
rections, to prevent deterioration dur
ing the winter and loss of vitality.
What Governor Major undertook 20 do
for the roads Of Missouri by setting
aside special days for work non them,
the governor of Minnesota is trying
to do for the corr crop, Which Will
accomplish the most actual cash good
for the farmers is a question, though
the corn seed proposition the more
readily lends itself TO figures,
There are approximately 100, 900
o0o acres annually in corn in the
United States, producing about an
average Of twenty-five bushels to the
acre, giving a crop in excess Of 2,So0,-
GOO. 600 bushels. Gould this crop be
increased only five bushels per acre
by proper selection OF seed, and that
is a very low estimate Of wheat Is pos
Sible. the value would be enhanced. at
50 cents q hushel. a total Of $500, 000,-
coo, which sun would go a long way
towards making good roads, 1t rep
resentS every dollar expended upon
roads in the United States. The best
corn farmers seldom get a better
stand than SIS per cent n many fall
taI OStON IiS&l alSNIS. l ne ISkNdI 4
ment Of agriculture says the average
corn field has not over IS Per cent Of
stand. while in many cases the per-
centaEe is 40. II all these could be in
creased to 81 per cent which experts
say is easily possible by proper seed
selection in the fall and rigid germi-
nation tests in the spring, the corn
crop OF the country would be in
creased nearly nne-half. or some $500, =
coo, 600 a e This is a sum large
enough 70 attract attention,
II is only a few years since this
propaganda for better seed began
Farmers had IN the past been accus-
toned 70 going 10 the corn crib in the
spring and picking out the best look
Ing ears, Smelling them and plantinS
with little care. Some were even SC
foolish as 70 use the nuhhins for seed
thinking il q waste TO use the best
corn, Now the corn expert knows
that like produces Hike. He knows
that good ears produce good ones
that kernels Of strong termination
produce vigorous stalks, that ears
taken from stalks on which two ears
grew are more likely to produce two,
cared corn than those taken from
s~ingle-eared stalks Therefore. tht
scientific farmer takes the best seek
he can get, plants a seed patch awaN
from the regular field, and in the fal
selects from this patch only the best,
formed ears and preferably thoS,
from two-eared stalks. He then hans,
the ears up to dry. and later PUT
them where they will get air, but no
moisture and will o freeze In IN,
spring he cuts of the tips and butts
tests each individual a. for geruina
ton strength, and then plants onl
the seed that passes this final test
If every farmer did that the corn GRO
would be worth almost $1,000. 10000
more than il is, AS a start toward
realization Of this fact, seed corn wee
IS a conamen6a0le innovation.