Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1916-08-31
SELECT SEED CORN
GIVES HIGH YIELDS
Boys Climb Members Urged to
Make a Specially Of Seed
Selection by County Agents
Corn Grown Under Average
Field Conditions Desirable
Increased Yield OF 10 To 10 Per
Cent. Secured - Should 30
Stored In q Dry
Place.

College Park, Aug. 31.-The fact that
much higher yields Of corn can be So
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 Prof. Nicholas Schmitz,
of the Maryland State Agricultural
Experiment Station, the proper selec-
ton of seed corn Is the first step to.
ward profitable corn crop. In this
connection he says, Now is the time
to make the proper selection OF your
seed corn. Don't consider seed good
simply because 1t will grow. 1t should
also retain its full vigor Tho only
way full vigor can be retained Is to
take care of the seed properly This
can be done by selecting the seed be-
fore storing 1t. The superiority OF
properly preserved seed over that
picked from the crib, even though the
crib seed terminates well, has been
proven over and over again, the in
crease In yield In the well.prsserved
seed over crib-picked seed usually run
ming from 10 to 80 per cent,
"The only proper way to select seed
corn is from the standing stalks. AS
soon as the crop ripens. 90 through the
Held with a basket or bag hung across
the shoulder and husk the corn from
desirable stalks that have produced
good-sized ears without having any
special advantages Of air. moisture and
fertility. Avoid very large ears on
stalks standing single or with large
amount of space around them. Prefer
ence should be given those plants that
have produced we'll in competition
with a full stand Late-maturing plants
with ears which are heavy because OF
an excessive amount Of sap should be
passed by; sappiness Is likely to DO
stroy quality. Everything being equal.
short, thick stalks are preferable. They
are not so easily blown down. permit
thicker planting. and In general. are
more productive than slender stalks.
The position Of the ear Is also i'm.
portant 1t should not b too high, as
the higher the ear is placed on the
stalk, the more apt the stalk is TO blow
down in case Of storm. Tho 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 molding.
It is an inherited tendency OF corn to
produce suckers; therefore, other
things being equal. seed should be
taken from stalks not having suckers.
THE most important step In seed -.
lection, however, Is to place the ears
selected in q dry place with free cir.
culation OF air. so that they will dry
out quickly. The storage room may be
any place where air circulatss freely,
such as wagon shed, barn loft. or
attic. But do not throw tho seed on a
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 80 that there 10 free
circulation of air around each ear. Tho
seed should Be left in this manner until
It is as dry as = bone. which usually
takes about two months. After this.
1t may be stored in mouse proof boxes
or barrels or crates II desired. or they
may be allowed to remain where they
are"