The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1916-10-20
SELECT SEED CORN
GIVES HIGH YIELDS
Boys Climb Members Urged 10
Make a Speciality Of Seed
Selection by County Agents
Corn Grown Under Average
Field Conditions Desirable
Increased Yield OF 10 To 30 Per
Cent. Secured - should be
Stored In a Dry
Place.

College Park, Aug. 31.-Tho fact thai
much higher yields OF corn can be 80
cured from the careful selection Of
seed corn has become generally REQ
|ognized by farmers throughout tho
State. Members Of the Boys Corn
Clubs Of the various counties are BIO.
Ing especially urged to specialize In
nsld selection by their County Demon
strasion Agents.
According to Prof. Nicholas Behmitss
q the Maryland State Agricultural
Experiment Station. the proper sslso-
ton Of seed corn Ia the tirst step "
ward Q profitable corn erop. In this
connection he says, Nov h the time
% make the proper selection q your
seed corn. Don't consider sssd GOOD
simply because II will grow. n should
also retain lie full vigor. The only
way full vigor oan be retained u b
take care of the seed properly. This
can be done by selecting the seed be-
fore storing IT, The superiority Of
properly preserved seed over that
picked from tho crib, even though the
crib seod terminates well, has been
proven over and over again, the In
crease In ylold In the well.preservad
seed over cribpioked seed usually run
ming from 10 TO 80 per cent.
"The only proper way to select sesd
corn IL from the standing stalks. Al
soon az the crop rlpens, 20 through the
field with Q basket or bag hung aoross
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 sars on
stalks standing single or with large
amount OF spaoe around them. Prefer.
snos should be given those plants that
have produced we'll In competition
with full stand. Late -maturing plants
with ears which are heavy because OF
an excessive amount Of sap should be
passed by; sappInesH 10 likely b do.
stroy quality. Everything being equal.
short. thick stalks are preferable. They
are not 80 easily blown down, permit
thicker planting, and In general. are
more productive than slender stalks.
The position Of the ear 10 also I'm.
portant. II should not bs too high, as
the higher the ear is placed on tho
stalk. the more apt the stalk 10 10 blow
down In case OF q storm. The ear,
should also have tendency 10 droop
rather than 70 point upward, because
OF the danger OF water getting Into tho
husk and causing sprouting Of molding.
Il Ia an inherited tendency Of corn 10
produce suckers; therefore, other
things being equal. seed should DO
taken from stalks not having suckers.
"The most important step In seed %.
lection, however. IL 10 plaee the earn
selected In q dry place with free DIR
ciilation Of air, 80 that they viii dry
out quickly. The storage room may BE-
any place whore air cireulates freely
such as q wagon shed. barn loft, or
attic. But do not throw the seed on o
pilei that would not bs much improve.
mont over tho crib. Tie the ears In
punches on string or IN some other
way. placing them no that there 10 freq
circulation OF mir around each ear. Tho
seed should be left IN this manner until
II Is as dry as q BONE. which usually
takes about two months. After this,
II may be stored In mouso-proof boxes
or barrels or crates n desired, or thoy
may be aliowed to remain whore they
arc"