Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-02-22
Seed Corn Situations
Bring Suggestions For
Obvjat;,,g Shortage

Tho frequent shortages OF seed corn
in the northern states are becoming y
more serious as the Importance OF the
crop in this area increases. In 1909
the acreage Of corn in the northern
tier Of states-New England, New
York. Michigan. Wisconsin, minnesota,
the Dakctas, Montana, Idaho, and
Washington--was 6,716,l52 acres. Last
year it was 11,121,000. II the Industry
is to continue to grow. say specialists
in the department., more attention
must be paid to the seed supply, and
the attempt to grow varieties which
require long season in which to ma
ture must be abandoned.
Varieties must be found or bred
which will make a rapid growth and
mature in the short period between the
last killing spring frost and the first
killing fall frost. When man aids ma
ture by selecting and preserving seed
only from individuals which show
promise in several years the habits
and characteristics can be changed
considerably, and perhaps variety
which at first failed TO mature may !,
be SO changed that 1t becomes suitable.
Even when a variety. has been thus
adapted to locality. SO that it Will
mature under ordinary condikt6
there will come seasons SO unfS1 "a
able that 1t will not mature. II
one years seed supply Is gathered
each year, all the work OF adoption Is
lost. The proper way is to gather
enough from good crop to supply
seed for two or three years hereafter.
Good seed will keep without deprecta-
ton this long.
Go out into the cornfield before the
first killing frost, gather good supply
of the best ears to be found ON stalks
growing in competition with others:
hang these ears up IN some place
where they will be protected. but at
the same time have good. chance to
dry out quickly; when dry enough to
shell do so, and put the seed away
where 1t will not be exposed to too
great changes in temperature and
moisture. Any man can follow the
simple directions here given and
plant his fields every year with good.
growing seed which he knowa
is adapted to his farm.
The matter Of seed supply IL q case
Of avoiding trouble, rather than trying
to remedy the trouble after it haa
arrived. II no seed of the 1914 cron
is available. the farmer is in bad
shape. He must purchase his seed,
and in doing this he Is in grave danger
OF obtaining either poor seed or seed OF
late-maturing varieties.
e-grown seed that has been well
cared for. even though 1t was not
thoroughly mature. Is almost certain
to sive better results than imported
seed. BY homegrown seed Is meant
seed grown on the farm. or in the same
county or where the same general
affected the crop. The
point to be emphasized is that the
farmer In Minnesota, or North Dakota,
should not send for seed grown in
South Dakota or Iowa. II
this 10 done, the crop resulting will al
most certainly be immature next fall
when 1t is necessary to harvest.
An exception to this may be the
1ry-land portion of the moro southern
states. The corn growers there are
confronted nearly every year wttk
drought In order to grow corn at all.
I Is necessary to grow early maturing
which will snake" before the
Drought occurs. Some excellent crops
we're secured in 1915: but in some In
stances good crops were secured from
which are not early matur-
ng and therefore not well adapted for
northern planting. Too much care can
1ot be exercised in learning the facts
before purchasing seed corn there.
This seed will be widely offered for
sale this year.
There are certain localities, even in
he most northern states. where corn
lid mature sufficiently to provide seed
'or 1916. 1t is possible that the de-
oartment may be able to assist farmers
n obtaining seed from these sources
IN this connection an appeal is made
or every grower Of northern seed
,orn. having good seed to sell, to fur
1ish the office Of corn investigations
If the department with his name. adj
1ress. name OF variety, price. and
amount Of seed for sale. A generous
response will aid the department in re-
ieving the present critical situation.
Surprising results have been OBJ
aimed by the office OF corn investi-
cations with seed which was very Inn
nature when gathered. Even II your
seed was in the soft dough- stage
when gathered last fall. IL It was
we'll cared for. 1t Will terminate and
reproduce well enough to make Il
preferable to southern seed.
Attention also is called to F'armers'
Bulletin AS. entitled aSeed Corn"
which treats the subject in more de-
all.
e-AA..:-- - n.>sk 5ssSasF