West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-07-27

All right; Jay birds and calves are
out OF the question. DO you feel any
breeze 10 rustic the corn?"
N-no-blieve not" said Mr.. Weston
lie was being hemmed I'm and knew H..
There never was calmer night-not
n breath of air stirring.
NOW the wind Is out of the question
too. Listen Hear thatY" They lis
tened again.
Sounds like the whisperin' In that
big seashell when you hold IL 10 your
ear" said Mr.. Weston.
Amt thing I'm the world except the
corn growing-leayes unfolding and
rubbing against one another rs they
open-that makes that noise. So you
can say that you've heard corn grow.
even IL you never saw II grow" sug
gested his son.
well. live an learn his father re-
sponded.
Hope TO goodness we won't have n
rain for about two or three weeks 3"
Said Joe. That corn Is fine. and AZ we
hilNe nice, quiet, dry spell and no
Dig WIND the pollen will fall plentiful
from the tassels to the silk. and the
ears VIII be seeded plumb TO the end
good fertile grains. Wet weather lust
at tnsseling time IL bad for corn II
Is always better If the weather Is dry
| and still'
I've heard old farmers say that bur
lney didn't know the reason" said Mr.
Weston
III there's much wet weather or
WIND about tasseling time the pollen
from the tassels don't fall on the sill,
evenly. That Is necessary to make n
perfect grain. There's strand of silk
Tor each grain. Unless that strand gets
poIien on IL, no grain. Rain and wind
wash the pollen away before IL gets
on all the silk"
That makes hubby corn?" inquired
his father. Joe nodded.
III the weather had been ordered
especially for the corn 1t could not
nave been any finer. 1t was exactly
three weeks until n gentle, slow rain
fell one night.
My crops made; it's nader re-
Joiced Joe when he arose the next
morning. Grains all formed: now
plenty or moisture To I'LL 'em out;
crops made, / tell you. and it's going
TO be whale of n crop, believe mev
Looks like the season come just
J right" observed his mother.
Couldn't be better" admitted Joe.
His effort at seed selection was bear
Ing fruit. He had saved the seed from
the stalks with the most ears OH them.
and In the crop coming on there was
at least third of the crop with three
perfectly developed ears on each stalk.
probably fifty stalks with four well
developed ears and half dozen which
showed four good ears and rudimen-
tary ear which could in time be de-
veloped into a perfect ear
Joe went through and marked all the
five cared stalks with red calico
string, the four cared ones with n blue
strip and the three cared ones with n
white piece OF cloth.
I'm going to gather 1t all separate
ly," no explained to his father. These
few stalks showing the five ear tend
ency am going to plant off by them
selves next year and develop them up;
same way with the four ears. May
plant the two together. I'm not Ger
/ tain now, but 1 want to breed that
corn up to FIVE good ears TO the stalk.
| What about this here three ear
corn?" inquired Mr.. Weston.
First want to get enough OF it for
you to plant here on the place: then
the rest OF It will sell for seed"
What about the balance. JoeY'
Feed the hogs with It."
why, joe" protested Tom Ralston,
you could sell any of this corn for
seed corn at fancy price just because
It came of this acre. You're foolish
not to-"
We'll, maybe I'll sort out the best
ears from the two ear corn and sell II
at slight advance for the trouble in
sorting II out, but won't take any
fancy price for II. because It amt fan
CO corn. And / amt particular anx-
ious 10 sell It. It's worth as much 20
w for feed "A the money Is"
81 think you ought TO be willing TO
sell It for seed corn. joe" said his IA
Their. Its fine. strong corn, better
| than any Of this around here. It's
bound 20 give good results. an you'll
/ help the farmers that want 20 get a
good corn TO plant"
4 "Oh, well, looking at 70 that way,
reckon it's sort of my duty 20 let 80 go
But just wait until get me a FIVE ear
corn fixed. III get Eve and six dollars
n bushel Tor II right along"
How you going 10 carry on corn
breeding II you are or at scboolT'
inquired Tom Ralston.
Better get the trip 90 the school
first Bot n do 90 Mp there pa can
do all that's ncedful next year. Plant
on part Of this acre the four car and
FIVE ear corn. III pick the two most
perfect ears 10 get seed from. Then,
when the ears are maturcd. DO as ]
have d0ne-pick out the best and
/ strongest stalks with the most ears on
/ 'cm and mark 'em. Then tho next
] year III carry it on myself"
( what about the rest OK that four
ear cornT' inquired Mr.. Weston.
"Seil 50 90 81 n bushel for seed after
you have got Oh you want. Same way
with the three car sell that az 81 a
/ bushci"
THAT patch out there ought 10 make
| good crop of corn next year" re-
fccted Mr.. Weston.
"For goodness sake, don't plant a
stalk OF corn in her except that stun
we are trying 20 breed up. Don't want
any other corn my closer than that
field below the hill. The pollen u that
low grade corn VIII get mixed With
this fine corn and set us back no tell.
fng how far"
"Oh, all right then. But what shall
we plant hereT
Break ~ early and SOW oovyr,oas