Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-09-11
AUTUMN time TO
SELECT seed corn
Farmer Gathering His Own
Seed Corn Should Make
It Special Task.

Washington, Sept. 10.-Autumn is
the time 10 prepare for profitable
corn crop the following season. At
this time the seed is most abundant
and the very best can be obtained
before it has been in any way reduc-
ed in vitality. Many let the oppor-
tunity pass, expecting to purchase
their seed corn in the spring, but the
Department of Agriculture's special
list in charge of corn Investigations
advises that the autumn is the best
time to select good seed.
The best place for the farmer to
obtain seed corn is from fields on his
own farm, or in his neighborhood,
that were planted with a variety
which has generally proved most sue
cessful in that locality. OF course, II
community has an experienced and
honest corn breeder on whom it may
rely the seed corn may be obtained
from him.
The corn breeder who has demon
strated year after year the superb
GRITTY CT his corn will demand a
special price for his superior seed.
Such corn breeders are improving
corn as cattle breeders nave improved
cattle He has used special methods
that farmers generally have not time
to apply. Five dollars a bushel is
not too much to pay and will be a
profitable bargain for both parties.
What Constitutes Coed Seed Corn!
BY far too many consider seed good
simply because it will grow. To be
first class seed must be:
"a Well adapted to thc seasonal
and sell conditions where it is to be
planted.
CD Grown on productive plants
of productive variety.
go Well matured, and preserved
from ripening time till planting time
in a manner that will retain its full
vigor.
The Importance of the three re-
quirements Just enumerated has been
demonstrated experimentaly by the
departments office of corn invest1ga-
items. The results given briefly, as
enumerated, are as follows:
Q For series OF five years, II
wcll-bred varieties were tested in 10
Northern States, equivalent lots of
seed being used in each state. Varie-
ties that produced most in some states
were among the poorest in others.
CD Seed ears taken from the
highest yielding rows of ear-to-row
breeding plats have repeatedly pro-
duced better than seed ears taken
from poorer yielding rows. Seed
ears from the best producing stalks
found in a general field produced
| more than seed ears taken without
considering the productiveness of the
| parent stalks.
CD Four bushels of ears were di-
vlded into two equal parts, one part
| being we'll taken care of and the
| other placed in a barn as corn is
ordinarily cribbed. The well-preserv-
ed seed CAV ca yield on poor soil II
per cent higher than the poorly pre-
served and u per cent higher on fer
| tile SOIL Notwithstanding the fact that
both lots Of seed terminated equal
| ly we'll.
Seed Corn Gathering Should Be
Special Task.
At corn-ripng time dro pail other
business and select an abundance OF
seed corn. The process is 10 import
ant to be conducted incidentally while
husking. When selecting seed corn
give the process your entire atten
ton. Get the very best that is to be
had and preserve it we'll, and your
increased yields will return you more
profit lhan any other work you can
do on your farm.
The only proper way 20 select seed
corn is from the stalks standing
where they grew, as soon as ripe and
before the first hard freeze.
AS soon as the crop ripens. go
through the field with seed-picking
bags and husk the ears from the
stalks that have produced the most
corn without having ANY special ad-
vantages, such as space. moisture, or
fertility Avoid the large ears on
stalks standing singly with an UNI
usual amount OF space around them.
Preference should be given the plants
that nave produced most heavily in
competition with full stand CT less
productive plants.
In all localities the Inherent tend
ency of the plant to i..,oduce heavily
of sound, dry, shelicG corn is of
most Importance.
Late-maturing plants Wit. ears
which are heavy becausa OF an cX-
cessive amount of coap shoull be
ignored. Sappiness greatly Increases
the weight and is likely to dest"ye he
quality. In many sections this fact
is not sufficiently appreciated
In the Central and Southern
states, all other things being eslal
short, thick stalks ara prefe abe.
Short stalks are not 50 easily brown
down and permit thicker planting