The Green Forest tribune., 1913-10-31
THE SELECTION 0F SEED CORN
A Bit of Timely Avice from John Fl. Page, Commissioner of Horticulture,

Page, Comnaisoner of Agriculture. Now is the time of year for the far mers to begin preparations for the crop of next year. There are two things of importance to consider right now. One is the selection of seed corn and the other is adding organic matter the soil In seed selection, first consider the type of corn for seed The best type is an ear ranging from to 10 1-2 inches in length. The shape should be cylindrical, or round and uniform in size almost the entire length Beginning at the butt end and meas uring to point about one third of the length, stick a pin or tie a string Then measure around the ear and take it's circumference. 1t should measure , at this point about three-fourths of the length of the ear. An ear inches long should be 6 inches in circumference at the point mentioned-one third the way from the big end. The small end of the ear should be blunt not long and tapering The ear of corn should grains well set, and not loose. The small end should be well filled out with grains. Some good ears will not be well filled to the end on account of the corn worm. When this is the cause it is not so material. The rows of grains should be straight, and the grains uniform in size and shape, except at the two extreme ends. The grains should be wedge-shaped and firm and healthy with enough space between the rows to allow them to dry out or season well.
 Remember that certain amount of moisture must escape from the corn between now and planting time. By all means avoid ears that are short, thick and stubby, and also the long tapering kind. Avoid white corn with a red cob also. Such corn is not pure bred. Another point is the number of rows of grains. There should not be fewer than siXteeen nor more than twenty-two. A good plan to follow in selection is to pick out few ears that come up to these specification by mea- surement. Than study them. Then go into the field with a sack or basket and pick out ears that are as nearly alike as you can. Select your corn from good stalks, that are large and uniform, and not too high-stalks of medium height, with the ear growing at convenient height to gather.
 Gather plenty of it-several times what you will need to do your planting. Then this winter you can on rainy days go over it and select the best, and sell or trade the balance to your neighbors at good price, and save some for re- planting. Place your seed corn in a dry place, on shelves, or string it and hang to the rafters where the mice cannot get to it. During the winter test it and see how much will come up when planted. Take strip of domestic and mark it off in squares to 10 inches. Take three to five grains out of each ear, some from near the ends and some from the middle, from differ ent rows. Number each square on the cloth and tag the ears with a number also. Then place the grains from the numbered ears on the corresponding, squares on the cloth. Lay another cloth on top of it and sprinkle with warm water until it is wet. Then carefully fold 1t up so as not to move the grains out of place. Wrap the whole in an old sack or piece of quilt and put in warm water. Then lay it away where it will keep warm, or at about 60 degrees If it dries out moisten again in about three days. After about six days the seed will germinate or sprout. Make an examination. Throw out the ears that do not not have germ mating grains with healthy roots. If an ear shows more than two grains that do not sprout under this system, do not use it for seed. If you do, you will get poor stand. Shell your seed corn by hand in the early spring, and do not use the grains from either end, but confne yourself to the grains of uniform s1ze This will enable your planters to work well, and give you better stand of better corn.
 For organic matter break your land this fall if you can and turn under the pea stubble, weeds, grass and corn stalks. The more vegetable matter you turn under the more organic matter. Plow deep, and sub-soil if you like.