Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1915-11-04
Seed Corn Selection
Important Farm Item

Other things being equal, this sea.
sons crop Of seed corn is best for
next springs planting.
But this year, other things are not
equal. In some localities things are
very unequal. Some fields of corr
failed to ripen sufficiently to make
seed; some will make seed if careful,
ly stored; some fields matured this
season in excellent shape.
On the third day of September at
Iroquois the writer saw ears of corr
from a field that at that time was
solid enough for seed. The next day
at Yankton a larger grower said that
another week would put his seed corn
out Of danger of being actually ruined
by frost. At the present writing
though, the corn crop has done all ii
can do, the state at large is apparent.
ly In a position to supply itself with
new corn for seed. Those who save
seed will have to sell some to those
who cannot.
Accordingly the writer believes
it will not be absolutely necessary
to depend entirely on old corn for
next years seed. The important part
of the matter is that every corn
grower shall Immediately secure seed
corn, either old or new and preserve
it for a day to mt
How to Select Old Seed Corn.
IL you know of a crib Of old corn
grown in your community which you
think may be suitable for seed, ex-
anime it carefully. If the ears are
solid, free from mould, and II the
kernels have germs that are of good
flesh color, not ,blackened, the pros,
pect is promising that it will make
good seed. You may decide to keep
the entire crib and use it for seed
purposes instead of feeding.
Before deciding this, you may as
well make a complete termination
test of the crib. Keeping corn that
would fail to grow would be Of nc
advantage. o. Il
Select one hundred ears from diff
ferent positions in the crib. They
should be representative Of the entire
amount of corn Take one kernel
from each of the one hundred ears
and make a termination test with
them. If e~ighty-ive 0 + more of them
| grow, save the crib. If the crib is
we'll constructed, dry, and free from
rats, the corn may remain in the crib
till spring. or the corn may be re
moved and stored elsewhere If the
crib is needed for other purposes. In
any event, however, do not shell the
corn for it will retain vitality longer
In the ear, so it is stated on fairly
good authority. uo q .
Next spring before the crib OF
corn is used for seed, make an ear
test of the entire amount. Take al
least three kernels from each ear In
making this test, one from butt, mid
die and tip. Discard all ears for seed
that thus prove to have any deat
kernels.
If the composite test Of any Grill
this fall shows it to have less thar
e~ighty-five per cent of live kernels
but nevertheless, a good amount Of
vitality, say seventy-tive per cent
make an a test Immediately. Tha1
is in order to eliminate the poor ear
thus to store only the live ones over
winter.
In the spring, a short time before
corn planting, make another test az
usual.
ALI this implies some care ant
trouble. 1t always takes a little trou
bic to secure good seed corn. But E
little trouble this fall will be more
than repaid next fall, or wen nex1
spring in South Dakota.-By A. N
Hume, Agronomist and Superintend
| ent of SubstationS.