The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-10-19
Vocational Column
DON'T GUESS-SELECT
Prepare for a Profitable Crop Next
Year

The only proper way TO select seed
corn is from the stalks standing
where they grew, as soon as ripe.
As soon as the crop ripens we
should go thru the field and mark
the stalks, by tying some kind OF
colored string around them about
two feet from the ground. that
have produced the most corn with
out having any special advantage
such as space. moisture, or fertili-
~. Avoid the large ears on stalks
standing 'singly with an unusual
amount Of space around them.
Preference should be given the
plants that have produced most
heavily in competition with a full
stand Of less productive plants. In
all localities the inherent tendency
Of the plant to produce heavily OF
sound, dry, shelled corn is OF most
importance. Late-maturing plants
with ears which are heavy because
of an excessive amount Of sap
should be ignored. Sappiness great
" increases the weight and is like
ly TO destroy the quality.
All other things being equal, short.
thick stocks are preferable. Short
stalks are not 81 easily blown down
and permit thicker planting. Thick
stalks are not so easily broken
down. and in general are more pro-
ductive than slender ones. The ten
dency for corn 10 produce suckers
is hereditary. Other things being
equal. seed should be taken from
stalks that have no suckers.
II the corn is 30 he cut for fodder,
then these stalks that are marked
should be left in the field for about
two weeks in order 10 mature little
better.
Many Of us failed Ia select our
corn in the field and thereby lost
the opportunity Of determining the
kind Of neighbors our seed corn
had and under what conditions u
grow as an individual ear so the
next best thing for us to do is Ia
watch for the best ears as we har-
vest our corn.
The same day seed corn is gather
ed the husked ears should be put in
a dry place where there is free cir
circulation Of air and placed in such
manner that the ears do not touch
each other. This is the only safe
procedure. Good seed is repeatedly
ruined because il is thought To be
already dry enough when gathered
and that the precaution mentioned
above is unnecessary. Many farm
ers believe that their autumns are
so dry that such care is supernous.
Seed corn in every locality gathered
at ripening time will be benefited
by drying as suggested. II left ="
the husk long after ripening II may
sprout or mildew during warm, wet
weather or become infested with
weevils. The vitality Of seed corn
is often reduced by leaving il in
sack or in pile for even day after
gathering. During warm weather,
with some moisture in the cobs and
kernels, the ears heat or mildew in
a remarkably short time. The best
possible treatment Immediately
after gathering is Ia string the ears.
Ordinarily the best place TO hang
strings OF ears is in an open shed
or loft.
Only during unusually damp
weather at seed gathering time will
fire be necessary II heat is EN-
ployed in a poorly ventilated room.
II will do the seed ears more injury
than good n used, the fire should
he slow. long continued. and situated
below the seed ears. with good ven.
tilation above them
After hanging in the shed or ly-
ing on the racks for two months,
the seed ears should be as dry as
bone and contain less than 10 per
cent Of moisture. They can remain
where they dried or be stored in
mouse-proof barrels, boxes or crates
during the winter, but in either
case they must not DE exposed 10
a damp atmosphere, for they will
absorb moisture and be injured
Some farmers place the thoroughly
dried seed ears in the center Of a
wheat bin and MI the bin with
loose. dry wheat.
In localities where weevils and
grain moths iniure stored grain. the
thoroughly dry seed ears should be
stored in very tight mouse-proof
rpcpDiaclps with 4 Mound of moth