Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-10-31


age termination of seed corn through
out the state for 19O9-1O as shown by
these samples is 600 per cent. The
average stand secured from this corn
was 80 per cent.
Seed corn dried with artificial heat
in well ventilated rooms during the
first two or three weeks after picking
gives the highest termination, an av-
erage of. 91.5 per cent for the two
years. Next to this is corn cured in
furnace rooms with open windows
where the heat was applied immediate
ly after bringing the corn from the
field. Well ventilated rooms and gar
rets with more than one window gave
examinations of $50 per cent and S4.5
per cent respectively. Corn cured I'M
der porches protected from rains gave
10 per cent; corn in barns, tool houses.
etc. 60 per cent.
The granary has proved a snare and
deluSion to many Il farmer who thinks
this is good place for drying seed
corn The moisture from the grain in
gran3rieS, like the moisture from ami
mails in barns. enters the cells of the
corn, and the freezing weather which
follows destroys its vitality. Wind
mills and the outside of buildings and
corncribs proved the poorest places to
cure seed corn.
In this study of seed curing much
corn was found which was destroyed
by lying in piles or standing in sacks
for a short time after husking. The
only safe way of curing seed corn is
therefore to place the corn immediately
after picking in well ventilated room
and apply artificial heat for from one
to three weeks.
The grading Of the seed, the calibra-
ton Of the planter and the weather
and soil at planting time are. of course.
other factors which have their infu-
ence. The greatest variation. diff
ference of IL per cent, is found in the
case Of corn stored in granaries. The
average termination of all kinds of
corn for 1909-10 is $50 per cent, and
the average stand is 500 per cent,
very close parallel.
The methods for securing good seed
corn and obtaining good stand are.
briefly. using high yielding variety
sufficiently carly to mature in the To-
cality where grown; selecting only
well ripened. perfect ears from vigor-
Gus stalks before the entire field is
ripe; storing each ear separately; dry
ing with artificial heat ir well ven
tilated room Immediately after pick
ing; testing each ear for termination;
grading the seed and celebrating the
planter to suit each grade Of corn;
growing seed corn from well selected
seed In seed plots where barren stalks
may be removed.
The spacing of rows and hills of corn
and the number of kernels per hill
vary with latitude and soil fertility and
the variety. The richer the soil the
closer can the corn be planted.
Special emphasis has been placed
upon narrowing corn several times
soon after planting and in cultivating
corn with single horse cultivators.
when the corn is tasseling and set
ting ears. Care has been exercised at
this cultivation to run the cultivators
shallow to avoid cutting the roots
which at this time come very close to
the surface. Shallow. level cultiva-
ton practiced at number of places
particularly after showers during the
drought of midsummer formed dust
mulches and conserved the soil mois-
ture for the use of the corn.
Inquiries at farmers meetings show
ed that only 20 per cent Of the farmers
in the state owned tanning mills. The
losses from weed seeds annually intro
duced on farm through unclaimed
grain would amount to more than the
cost Of tanning mill.
A sufficient supply of grains for seed
purposes should be carefully cleaned
soon after thrashing and stored in
small bins, where danger of heating is
removed Too often the seed Is pre-
pared Immediately before seeding time.
taken from the bottom of large bins.
where heating and bin burning have
cleaning.
"Pin OATS" the small kernels of oats,
multiply much more rapidly than the
larger kernels. Where the small kerr
nels are not removed from the seed
by sleeves and wind the size Of kernel
thus rapidly diminishes. Grains thus
run out" by lack of care and clean
ing Of the seed rather than from the
causes to which this condition is COM
monty attributed.
At all Of the farms the method of
treating seed grains with formaldehyde
for the eradication of smut was dem
Onstrated by actual application to
grain at the meeting and to seed grain
used during the season. The solution
used consisted of one pint of 40 per
cent formaldehyde mixed with thirty
six gallons Of water. The solution was
placed in Il barrel or tank. and the
grains placed in gunny sacks were sub
merged in this for ten minutes. After
being removed and allowed to drain
for ten minutes the grain was placed
in heap on a barn floor and covered
with wet blankets The formaldehyde