The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1915-07-22
BOYS CORN CONTEST
o. E. Gibson Gives Youngsters Tim.
ely Advice Relative to Caring for
COrn-Can Mature.

Corn-Can Mature.
According to reports given out by
the U. S. Department of Agriculture,
covering a series of years, corn plant
ed as late as the first of June will ma
ture in Minnesota unless the growing
season is materially shortened by
early frosts. This information will
shed ray of hope for the boys in the
Corn Contest. With the coming fall
promising to be as lenient as our last
fall, some very good showings will be
made in spite of the various set backs.
Most of the boys are showing all
sorts of pluck and are sticking to the
job like veterans. Cold, wet weather
has made possible the rapid growth of
quack-grass and other troublesome
weeds and has very much delayed the
corn, Notwithstanding, the boys have
been making splendid Roadway and
the acres are in fine shape.
1t is quite probable that every acre
of contest corn will be cultivated at
least seven times before being laid-by.
The average field of corn in Mime
sofa is cultivated three times.
One of the provisions of the contest
is an exhibit Of produce at the local
fair. The fair comes late in Septem-
Der this year, and is possible that the
corn will be far enough along to make
alterations necessary in our pres
ent plans. However, should it be
found impossible to exhibit mature
grain each boy will make corn-stalk
exhibit at the Stearns County Fair
and the contest proper will be finish
ed at a later date. -,
In a great many localities it has
been found impossible to exhibit ma
ture corn at the fair for reasons
which may prevent it's being done
here this fall, and as a first-rate sub
stitute for the mature corn, corn-stalk
Exhibits have been largely provided
for. Because of the probability of
such an exhibit at our fair it might
be well to outline the scope of such
an exhibit. .' Il ...LE5* :
When the boys 60 into the corn
fields this fall to select seed-corn they
are going to take into consideration a
good many things. If a cow is to be
purchased one would be- considered
".easy" if he merely took note of the
richness of her milk, paying no at
tention to the rest of the animal. The
dairyman will inquire about the an
cestry of the cow, he will note her
general physical development, consti-
tuition, temperament, capacity, the de-
velopment Of her milking organs and
so on, giving due consideration to ev-
cry part of the animal. And so the
breeder Of good, bodybuilding, early
maturing corn knows that he must
not stop with the selection of good in
dividual ears for his seed, he must
look to the parent plant. The height
of the corn plant from which seed is
to be selected should be noticed. If
the plant is of the Average height or
Slightly above it one will be safe in
assuming that his prospective crop
will be > uniform everything else
being equal. The exceptionally tall
plants and the short ones should never
be considered as parent to the ear
that is being selected. Next, the
height of the ear from the ground will
be noted. The ears one has to stoop
to pick should not be selected, neither
should ears be taken which are high
above the stock. AS a general rule it
is wise to slightly favor those ears
which are lowest as there is a ten
dency for the INTO ripen first. Viewer
select ears from parent plants having
more than one ear upon stalk. More
than one ear is the exception and it is
the exceptions we are trying to avoid.
Attention must be given to the length
Of the shank of the ear. 1t must not
be heavy and coarse, neither must it
be thin and non-supporting. 1t must
not be exceedingly short nor can it be
unreasonably long. The shank and
ear should make the proper angle
with the stalk. If the ear is assuming
to an upright position rains will tend
to lessen the vitality of the ear by
soaking in and sometimes causing de-
cay. A position too dropping indicates
a weak attachment. Each should be
selected then which droop enough to
shed rain effectively. An ear of corn
should not be saved for seed coming
from a plant that is too heavy and
stocky, neither should it come from
plant that is too thin and spindling.
For the most part, however, the
length of the corn stalk will largely
determine its coarsness. The leafli-
ness of the stalk should be taken into
consideration in some cases. The
root attachment should be noted
where it is sufficiently exposed. Sever
al minor details could be mentioned
but those given will suffice to indicate
that the selection of properly formed
eornsttsaalbbal bsaEFilng their easzsi Ejghtly