The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1914-08-27
SELECT YOUR SEED
CORN BEFORE The FROST


The only way to obtain good strong,
viable, seed corn is to make the selec--
ton before the first frost in the fall.
The germ in every viable kernel of
seed corn is a live, very small tightly
rolled, corn plant. The kernel, aside
from the germ is only stored food
supply for the use of the little Plant
before it comes above the ground
Freezing this little plant while it is
in the ear will kill it. Every one
knows how easily a corn plant WIZ
freeze j!T .f-.: it cou., out of the
ground in the spring. It 3 J 81 a. "a.
tai to the plant to be frozen inside of
the kernal as to be frozen as a grow
ing plpant. It follows then that seed
must be selected before killing frostE.
or freezing weather if we wish to OBJ
, tain seed of a high strong termination
When so selected and properly tried.
seed corn of the highest quality IS in
sured.
Mature corn makes the best and
strongest seed, however corn selected
in the soft dough stage will also make.
fairly good seed if great care is taken
in it's proper curing and storing. The
selection of seed corn in the soft
dough stage is advisable when there is,
danger Of an approaching frost. If
such is the case one should not forego
the selection Of seed corn just because
1t is not ripe. So many people have
made mistake in postponing the Sc
lection of their corn until it is ripe,
from the fact that in so doing the corn
has been frozen beforethe selection
could be made.
In selecting seed corn from the field
one should bear in mind theessentials
Of good ear:
First-Select the earliest maturing.
ears providing the have the essentials;
Of a good ear Of corn. The selection
of seed is based largely on the law
that like produces like and thus in Sc
lecting the earliest maturing ears this
season and planting the seed next
spring we may look for still earlier
crop the next year.
Second-Size and Shape. The size
of the ear should be such as will ma
ture within the conditions under which
it is raised Do not select the biggest
and longest ears. Under our condi--
tons an ear approximately seven
inches long and weighing from six to.
eight ounces is the proper size to Sc
lect. The circumference of an ear
should be approximately three-fourths.
of its length. Do not pick an ear that
is too tapering but rather one that is
very slightly tapering from the butt to-
the tip. Such an ear will have larg-
er percent of shelled corn to the ear.
Third-Buts and Tips. Select an ear
where the kernels are carried well for
ward to the tip and one that has we'll
file dand we'll rounded butt.
Fourth-Rows. LOOK for straight
rows with closely and we'll formed ker-
nels. Too much space between the
rows should be avoided.
Fifth-Depth of Kernel. The kerr
nels should be reasonably deep, set on
amedium size cob.
If these few simple points are kept
in mind in the selection Of ears one.
can gradually obtain a strain of corn
that will be more productive and ear.
lier maturing.
After the corn has been selected it
should Immediately be put up to cure.
Do not let the corn lie around in a
pile TO rseveral days or not even over
night, but rather put it in position to
be cured on the same day which il
was picked. In curing and storing
corn the following points should be:
borne in mind.
First-To puptp up corn to cure see
that the ears do not touch one anoth--
er. II they are allowed to touch,
mold will start at the point of con-
tact. This Of coursewill injure or de-
stroy the viability OF the kernel.
Second-See that the curing room Is
we'll ventilated during the day. A
good circulation of air thru the room
will cure the corn very rapidly and if
such conditions can be obtained there
is hardly ever any need Of artificial
heat.
Third-Close up the curing room on
cold nights to prevent freezing.
In theevent that seed corn has been
picked in the soft dough stage artiff-
ial heat may be necessary in order to,
cure it rapidly enough. In using arti-
fetal heat in connection with curing
corn however care should be taken 50
as not to make the curing nom TN