Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1914-09-14

Farmer Gathering His Own Seed Corn
Should Make II a Special Task.

Washington. Sept. IL. - Autumn Is
the time TO prepare for profitable
corn crop the following season. At
this time the seed Is most abundant
and the very best can be obtained be-
fore II has been in any way reduced
In vitality, Many let the opportunity
pass, expecting TO purchase their seed
corn In the spring, but the Depart
ment OF Agriculture's specialist In
charge OF corn Investigations advises
that 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 we're planted with variety
which has generally proved most sue
cessful in that locality. OF course. II
a community has an experienced and
honest corn breeder on whom II 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 special price
for his superior seed. Such corn
breeders are improving corn as cattle
breeders have improved cattle. He
has used special methods that farmers
generally have not time TO apply. Five
dqllars a bushel is not too much TO
pay and will be q profitable bargain
for both parties.
What Constitutes Good Seed cornf
BY far too many consider seed good
simply because II will grow. To be
first class, seed must be-
/. Well adapted to the seasonal
and soil conditions where II is to be
planted.
2. Grown on productive plants OF
4 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 DEM
experimentally by the De-
partment's Office Of Corn Invesiiga.
tons. The result given briefly. as
are as follows:
I. For series Of Ave years. twelve
we'll bred varieties were tested In ten
Northern States. equivalent lots OF
,eed being used In each State. varie-
lies that produced most in some
States were among the poorest in
others.
2. Seed ears taken from the high.
sst yielding rows OF ear-torow breed.
ng plats have repeatedly produced
better than seed ears taken from
poorer yielding rows. Seed ears from
he best producing stalks found in a
general field produced more than seed
sars taken without considering the
'roductiveness Of the parent stalks.
3. -Four bushels OF ears were divid.
d into two equal parts. one part be.
ng well taken care OF and the other
placed In barn as corn Is ordinarily
ribbed. The we'll preserved seed
rave yield on poor soil 10 per cent
higher than the poorly preserved and
n per cent higher on fertile soil. not.
outstanding the fact that both lots
u seed terminated equally well.
Seed Corn Gathering Should Be
Special Task.
At corn ripening time drop all other
business and select an abundance OF
reed corn. The process is too import.
int TO be conducted incidentally while
When selecting seed corn
give the process your entire attention.
Get the very best that is to be had
md preserve II well. and your In.
creased yields viii return you more
profit than any other work you can
10 on your farm.
The only proper way TO select seed
,orn is from the stalks standing
where they grew. as soon as ripe and
before the first hard freeze.
As soon as the crop ripens. 90
through the field with seed-pickins
bags and husk the ears from the
stalks that have produced the most
corn without having any special ad.
such as space. moisture or
Avoid the large ears on
stalks standing singiy with an unusual
amount Of space around them. Pref.
erence should be given the plants that
have produced most heavily in com.
petition with a full stand Of less pro-
ductive plants.
In all localities the inherent ten.
dency Of the plant to produce heavily
Of sound. dry. shelled corn is Of most
Importance.
Late-maturing plants with ears
which are heavy because of an ex.
cessive amount Of sap should be is.
nored. sappiness greatly increases
the weight and is likely 10 destroy the
quality. In many sections this fact