The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-08-22

Thy w. X. Porter, North ID
While the weather this year was no
the best for the development Of ar
ideal wheat crop, it has certainly, fav.
ored the growth and development Of
the corn crop. 1t has been demon
strated that corn grown in this state
is superior for seed to the same strain
grown further south. Every farmer
who has a good field of corn which is
nearing maturity has a better source
of seed than what he a depend upon
buying next. spring, if he properly Sc
lects and cures his seed from such a
field. ,
With but two exceptions the wheat
crop has been a disappointment in the
past ten years; this has convinced
most farmers that the time to diversi-
fly has arrived. One of the most inn
portant crops on any diversified sys-
tef is the corn crop. Therefore those
who have tired of growing wheat con
~tinuously must turn to corn as one of
their major. crops. Perhaps nothing is
so important in getting a good crop
of corn as good strong seed of the
right variety-such seed is produced
in very limited quantities outside of
the state of North Dakota, but such
seed is produced in abundance within
the state. 1t, however, must be picked
at the proper time, and cured in the
proper manner.
AS a general rule the corn for seed
purposes should be fully mature about
the first of September, if it has been
planted between May 10 and 20. If II
is mature earlier, the chances are that
it will be too small in both ear and
stalk for general planting; if later,
the chances are that it is too large
and will not fully mature every year,
What we want it as large an ear and
stalk of corn as we can depend on
getting mature every year. AS soon
as the corn is mature, or about Sept
l, the ears that are wanted for seed
should be selected; only mature, even
large, we'll placed ears from good ap-
pearing stalks should be selected. Only
the very best of these should be kept
for a seed plot. A man with a sack
which will hold not less than a hall
bushel may not be able to pick more
than five bushels of good seed corn in
a day, yet this is enough to seed forty
acres. If a man could only pick enough
seed each day to plant ten acres, still
he would be earning big wages, as
well selected seed may make all the
difference between success, and failure
with corn next year. After the corr
has been selected in the field, it should
| NC SOLlS ONSI IN oil AllIClloL Col
should be fed to the stock and only the
best should be cured. .
Curing seed corr properly is some
thing of an art. The corn should, be
placed under a tight roof where there
is a good circulation of air. The ear
may be braided together by means OF
the husks and the whole may be hung
up, a process familiar to everybody
and a method that is very good if only
a limited mount of seed is to be saw
ed. Any method of saving seed corr
should provide a good roof, free circu.
lation Of air. and the ears of corr
should not touch each other, as that
prevents rapid drying, and sometimes
induces mold. Artificial heat may be
used to cure corn. The corn should
be air dried before such heat is used
and the circulation Of air should be
very good, and care must be used not