Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-10-06
Miserllaneuus Reaaina.
SEED CORN SELECTION
Vow is the Time to Attend to this I'm
nnrtant Matter.


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 reduced in vitality. Many
let the opportunity pass, expecting
to purchase their seed corn in the
spring, but the departments special
ist 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 corn is from fields on his own
farm, or in his neighborhood, that
were planted with a variety which
has generally proved most successful
in that locality. OF course, if COM
munily has an experienced and hon
est 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 superiority
of his corn, will demand a special
price for his superior seed. Such corn
breeders have improved cattle. He
\ has used special methods that farm
ers generally have not time to apply.
Five dollars a bushel is not too much
to pay and will be a profitable bar
gain for both parties.
What Constitutes Good Seed Corn.
BY far too many consider seed
good simply because it will grow. To
be first class, seed must be
l. Well adapted to the seasonal
and soil conditions where it is to be
planted.
2. Grown on productive plants of a
productive variety.
3. Well matured, and preserved
from ripening time till planting time
in a manner that will retain its full
vigor.
The importance of the three require
ments just enumerated has been de-
monstrated eXperimentally by the de-
partment's office Of corn investiga-
| tions. The results given briefly, as
enumerated, are as tolloWS:
l. For a series Of five years, II we'll
bred varieties were tested in ten north
ern states, equivalent lots of seed be-
| ing used in each state. Varieties that
produced most in some states were
among the poorest in others.
2. Seed ears taken from the highest
yielding rows of ear-to-row breeding
plats have repeatedly produced better
than seed ears taken from poorer
yielding rows. Seed ears from the best
producing stalks found in general
field produced more than seed ears
taken without considering the produc-
tiveness of the parent stalks.
8. Four bushels of ears were divid-
ed 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-preserved seed gave yield
on poor soil twelve per cent higher
than the poorly preserved and twenty
seven per cent higher on fertile soil,
Notwithstanding the fact that both lots
of seed terminated equally we'll.
Seed Corn Gathering Should be Special
Task.
At -ripening time drop all other
business and select an abundance of
seed corn. The process is too import
ant to be conducted incidentally while
huskinp When selecting seed corn,
give the process your entire attention
Get the very best that is to be had and
preserve it we'll, and your increased
yields will return you more profit than
any other work you can do on your
farm.
The only proper way to 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 seedpicking bags and
husk the ears from the stalks that
have produced the most corn without
having any special advantages such as
space, moisture, or fertility. Avoid the
large ears on stalks standing singly
with an unusual amount of space
around them Preference should be
given the plants that have produced
most heavily in competition with full
stand of less productive plants.
In all localities the inherent tenden-
cy of the plant to produce heavily of
sound, dry, shelled corn is of most i'm
portance.
maturing plants with ears
which are heavy because Of an excess
sive amount of sap should be ignored.
Sappiness greatly increases the weight
and is likely to destroy the quality. In
many sections this fact is not suffi-
ciently appreciated.
In the central and southern states,
all other things being equal, short,
thick stalks are preferable. Short
stalks are not so easily blown down
and permit thicker planting. Thick
stalks are not so easily broken down
and in general are more productive
| than slender ones.
The tendency for corn to produce
suckers is hereditary. Other things be-
ing equal, seed should be taken from
stalks that have no suckers.
The same day seed corn is gathered
| the husked ears should be put in a dry
place where there is free circulation
of air, and placed in such a manner
that the ears do not touch each other.
Good seed is often ruined because it is
thought dry enough when gathered and
the precaution mentioned is considered
unnecessary. Many farmers believe
that their autumns are so dry that
such care is superfluous. Seed corn IN
every locality gathered at ripening
time will be benefited by drying as
suggested. If left in the husk long
after ripening, it may sprout or mildew
during warm, wet weather or become
infested with weevils.
The vitality Of seed is often reduced
by leaving it in a sack or in pile for
even a day after gathering. During
warm weather, with some moisture in
the cobs and kernels, the ears heat or
mildew in a remarkably short time.
The department of agriculture has d