West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-09-24

For tho Selection OF Seed Corn to
Insure . Profitable Crop for the
Following Sesson-Grest Care
Should be Taken

a
profitable corn crop the following season.
AT this time the seed is most abundant,
and the very best can be obtained before
1t has been in any way reduced in vi
tally. Many let the opportunity pass,
expecting TO purchase their seed corn in
the spring, but the department. specialist
in charge OF corn investigations advises
that the autumn is the best time to select
good seed.
The best place for the farmer 70 OBJ
tain seed corn is from fields on his own
farm, or in his neighborhood, that were
planted with variety which has generally
proved most successful in that locality.
OF course, il community has an ex-
perienced and honest corn breeder on
whom il may rely the seed corn may be
obtained from him.
The corn breeder who has demonstrated
year after year the superiority OF his corn
will demand a special price for his su-
perior seed. Such corn breeders are im-
proving corn as cattle breeders have inn
proved cattle. He has used special methods
that farmers generally have not time TO
apply. Five dollars bushel is not too
much to pay and will be profitable
bargain 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
Cd Well adapted to the seasonal and
soil conditions where it is to be planted.
(2) Grown on productive plants OF a
productive variety.
CD Well matured, and preserved from
rpening time till planting time IN a
manner that will retain its full vigor.
The Importance of the three require
ments just enumerated has been demon
strated experimcntally by the depart
ment's Office of Corn Investigations
The results given briefly, as enumerated
are as follows:
Cd For series of five years, IL we'll
bred varieties were tested in 10 northern
States, equivalent lots of seed being used
| in each State. Varieties that produced
most in some States were among the
poorest in others.
GU 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
stocks found in general field produced
/ than tal-n
sidering the productiveness of the parent
| stalks.
| CD -Four bushels of ears were divided
into two equal parts, one part being well
| taken care OF and the other placed in a
barn as corn is ordinarily cribbed. The
well-preserved seed gave yield on poor
soil II per cent higher than the poorly
preserved and p per cent higher on fer
tile soil. Notwithstanding the fact that
both lots OF seed terminated equally
well.
| SEED CORN GATHERING SHOULD BE SPECIAL
AT corn-ripening time drop all other
business and select an abundance of seed
corn. The process is too important to be
conducted incidentally while huskng.
When selecting seed corn, give the pro-
cess your entire attention. Get the very
best that is to be had and preserve it well,
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 seed-pcking bags and husk
the ears from the stalks that have pro-
duced the most corn without having any
special advantages, such as space, mois
ture, or fertility. Avoid the large ears
on stalks standing sngly with an unusual
amount OF space around them. Preference
should be given the plants that have pro-
duced most heavily in competition with
a full stand Of less productive plants.
In all localities the inherent tendency
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 excessive 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 sufficiently 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
being 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 dry place
where there is free circulation of air. and
placed in such manner that the ears do
not touch each other. Good seed il often
ruined because il 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 superhuous
Seed corn in every locality gathered at
ripening time will be benefited by drying
a. suggested. II left in the husk long
after ripening, 1t may sprout or mildew
during warm, wet weather or become in
tested with wcevils.
The vitality Of seed is often reduced 10y
leaving it in a sack or in a pile for even
q day after gathering. Dnrinr rrnrrn