The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1914-09-10
HOME GROWN GEE CORN GIVES
BEST RESULTS.


North Dakota is rapidly becoming a
live stock state. One of the most
economical feed crops that can be
raised is corn. Corn in order to have
its maximum food value must be ma.
ture. In raising corn then the aim
should. be to produce the greatest
amount of mature corn per acre-thls
can not be obtained unless more at
tention is paid to the home selection
of seed.
There is at the present time diff
ference in maturity of from ten days
to two weeks in favor of the home
grown seed as compared with the i'm
ported seed or such seed that has
come from the states of Minnesota
and South Dakota.
Corn selected early from the field
and properly stored is reasonably
sure to grow and give perfect stand
when planted next spring. There is
direct relation between the stand of
corn secured. The yield of corn pro-
duced and the profit from the crop.
It costs no more to grow a field OF
corn having perfect stand than it
does to raise field with so per cent
stand. The labor performed, the
amount of seed planted are the same
in both cases.
There are three ways in which
farmer can be benefited by selecting
his own seed.
First: He saves the expense Of
buying the seed corn which usually
amounts to four dollars bushel. Con-
sidering the fact, however that one
bushel will plant approximately eight
acres, this saving is not so great.
Second: If the seed is picked be-
fore the frost and is properly cured
and is then put to a esvere test before
planted, the farmers can secure seed
corn that will produce nearly per.
feet stand Of plants. This is one of
the great economies that accrue to
the farmer who saves and properly
cares for his own seed corn.
Third: Home grown seed will ma
ture. This means maximum feeding
value. 1t is invariably true that seed !!
corn borught from neighboring states
never natures before the first frost
in the fall Very often it is only in
the milk stage. As a result Of this |
condition We often hear the express !
sion that such corn will give lot of
fodder anyway. The feeding value of |
corn frozen in the milk stage however |
is very small when We come to con.
slider the fact that corn in the milk !
stage, taking the ear and plant as a |
whole, consists of over 80 per cent |
water. 1t contains then less than 10
per cent of dry material or real nu
tirtous food. orn that has passed |
from the milk stage to the mature
stage has increased approximately |
IS per cent in food value. This should |
be sufficient to emphasize the i'm
portance of more attention to the Sc
lection and proper care of home
grown seed.
From now on the fields of corn
should be inspected and watched for
mature ears. The best seed can only
be secured from the standing stalks
The easiest method Of selecting seed
from the field is to sling bag over
the shoulder having the mouth well
in front at the left side. One can
then pass between the rows and make
the selection desired and drop them
into the bag. With this equipment go
into the best part of the field and Sc
lect such ears as are most mature.
Maturity is indicated by brown dry
silk, the husks turning yellow and
having tendency Of the ear to hang
downward. Ears on long shanks
should be avoided. In selecting the
ears bear in mind to pick them from
shocks having upright we'll rooted
stalks. Select ears that are situated
sufficiently high on the stalk to allow
of cutting with a binder without diff
Guilty.
Here is the experience of some
Barnes County farmers who have
practiced home selection OF seed corn
for some years:
Il have matured my seed corn for
the past six or seven years. l find by
selecting the earliest matured ears