Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1916-11-10
SEED CORN
GIVES HIGH YIELDS
Boys Clnb Members Urged to
Make a Speciality Of Seed
Selection by County Agents
Corn Grown Under Average
Field Conditions Desirable
Increased Yield OF 10 To 80 Per
Cent Secured - Should Be
Stored In a Dry
Place.

College Park, Aug. 9t-The fact that
much higher yields Of corn can he sa-
cured from the careful selection Of
seed corn has become generally rec
ognized by farmers throughout the
State Members OF the Boys Corn
Clubs Of the various counties are be-
ing especially urged to specialize in
field selection by their County Demon
stration Agents.
According to Pref Nicholas Schmii-
of the Maryland State Aericultufai
Experiment station, the proper sele
ton Of seed corn is the first step
ward profitable corn crop. ia tm
connection he says, Nov Is the time
to make the proper selection OF you
seed corn. Don't consider seed goo
simply because it WIN grow Ii saou
also retain its fun gisor. Tie On
way full yigor can be retained Is
take care OF the seed properly. Ths
can be done by selecting Tire aeed
fore storing It. The superiority 9
properly preserved seed ever th
picked from the crib even though t.
crib seed germinafes well he hes
proven over and over again, The ir
crease in yield in tie wellpreserYa
seed over crib-pickc' ee1 usually rgl
ming from 10 to 80 per cent
"The only proper way 10 select see4
corn is from the standing stalks a
soon as the crop ripens. SO through tic
field with a bazket or bag hung across
the shoulder and husk the corn from
desirable stalks that have produce
good-sized ears without having arr
special advantages Of air, moi ture an
fertility. Avoid very large ears ci
stalks standing single OF with iarg
amount Of space around them. Prefer
ence should be given those plants tha
have produced we'll in eompetitio1
with full stand. Late-maturing plant
with ears which are heavy because C
an excessive amount Of sap should be
passed by; sappiness is likely to de-
stroy quality Everything being equal,
short, thick stalks are preferable They
are not so easily blown down. permit
thicker planting, and in general, ars
more productive than slender stake.
The position Of the ear is also I'm
2ortant. It should not be too high,
the higher the ear is placed on the
stalk, the more apt the stalk is to blow
down in case Of storm. The ear
should also have a tendency to droop
rather than to point upward. because
Of the danger Of water getting into the
husk and causing sprouting Of moldinr.
1t is an inherited tendency Of corn to
produce suckers; therefore, othe
things being equal seed should b.
taken from stalks not having sucker.
THE most important step in seed Sc,
lection, however, Is to place the ears
selected in a dry place with free cif.
culation of air so that they win dr5
out quickly. The storage room may BE-
any place where air eireulates freely.
such as wagon shed, barn loft. or
attic. But do not fhr3w the seed on
pile; that would not be much improve
ment over the crib. Tie the ears in
punches on a string or in some other
way, placing them SO that there is free
circulation Of air around each ear. The
seed should be left in this manner until
It is as dry as a bone. which usually
takes about two mon hs After this
It may be stored in proof boxes
or barrels or crates if desired, or they
NAV he ai1av-ed fo raYuain v-rora +bey
are"