The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-09-18
Mountain Agriculture

Conducted by Prof Frank s. Montgomery,
Instructor In Animal Husbsndry, and
Special Investigator.
SELECT SEED CORN NOW
Everyone remembers the trouble
they had with seed corn IN 1912, and
yet very many farmers took chances
last spring on getting seed corn
from the crib at planting time. TIE
probabilities are that the coming
winter will be much more severe
than last winter and the corn IS not
nearly 50 good this fall as IT was
a year ago, So you cant afford to
take chances this time, and If You
have good strain of corn IT doesn't
pay to- buy seed from some one else.
On the other hand. If you select
and care for several bushels u
seed this fail YOU Will be- sure 20
have some less providcnt neighbors
that you can sell to IN the spring
at a good price.
10 Rules for Selecting Seed Corn
I. secure from hills with two or
more stalks.
,. secure from stalks bearing two
or more ears.
3. secure ears at proper height
from ground.
I. secure shanks of medium
length with ears hanging down.
). spread out the seed IN dry,
warm place.
Il. Select ears Of good length.
!. Select ears we'll rounded over
at tip ends.
X. Select ears large around.
9. Select small ears with small
roh~ and large kernels.
10. Select ears with wedge shaped
grains.
If. select ears with grains in
straight rows.
T.. select ears with grain rather
smooth denied.
Is. Select ears with grains plump
and firm on the cob.
Advantage of Selecting from Stand
ing Corn.
You can readily see that it would
hc impossible to avail yourself of
The first four rules unless you
selected your seed from standing
corn II may be- we'll to- point out Il
few Of the reasons for these four
rules.
In the first place, an ear that has
grown IN a hall ul two or more
stalks and j. equally as good as an
other that grew by itself is natur-
ally a more vigorous fellow and
should make better seed, other
things being equal. Again, if you
/ take your seed from stalks with
/ two ears on them even If not quite
80 large ~ where only one ear grew
on stalk, YOU can M few years
develop strain of corn that Will
almost invariably produce two ears
/ To the stalk. Therefore select the
/ best ear from stalks with two OF
more ears.
Then IT Is of advantage to have
ears from three and half feet to
| five feet from the ground not only
because 1t i easier TO handle III
cutting or stripping and topping
| but also because your corn Will
ripcn more uniformly and all be
ready to harvest at nearly the same
| time.
/ Lastly, it Is "A waste as we'll as al
Inconvenience to have ears Will
shanks a foot long. And again il
! the shank is short and stlll, holding
the ear IN an upright position, n
allows rain water To run IN and IN
lure the grain. Whereas, If tn,
shank is moderately long and linn
Der enough to allow the ear to hans
tip downward, the husks drain Tia,
rain and dew all off, and the cal
keeps perfectly dry even If lief
standing out till winter.
! Every one knows that severe
freezing Injuries seed corn if 1t Il
not thoroughly cured and dry. ENel
then It does 1t no good. So be o.
the safe side and store your see
corn in a warm, dry place such a
around the chimney up stairs in tn