The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1917-09-27
SEEDCORN MUSTBE
CAREFULLY STORED
Probable Shortage as Result Of
the Seasons Backwardness;
Necessary Precautions.
EARS NEED GOOD DRYING
Thorough Ventilation Of Storage Room
Is Therefore Essentlai-Miehiga
Corn Best for Seed.
BY J. r. cox,
Professor of Farm Crops, Michigan Az
rIcuIturaI College.


rIcuItural College.
East Lansing, Mich.-The favorite
rallying cry of the city business man,
whether he be an automobile manufac-
turer employing ten thousand men, or
grimy boot-black holding forth on
the curb, is "PatrOnize home Industry"
This spirit, crystallized, has borne
fruit in the easily visible development
of city enterprises.
The motto, while city-born and city
bred, is one which the farmer can well
apply to his own business. particularly
with respect to seed corn. Michigan's
best corn growers have found their
may be said TO be adherence to the
motto use homegrown, field selected
seed"
This fruit Of their experiences as
thus summed up is of Importance just
now for the reason that ears carefully
selected this fall in the home field-if
you have variety of proved worth,
are likely to give better results in 1918
than will seed brought In from else
where. Many a Michigan man has
found TO his sorrow that corn brought
In from other states where Ia has done
well will not necessarily do the same
under Michigan conditions.
But homegrowing and home-selec-
ton is not enough. Good seed corn can
only he secured by thoroughly drying
carefully selected ears before they are
exposed 10 freezing weather.
In late September or October, the
corn as 1t comes from the field contains
In order to retain its vitality il must
be rapidly dried so as TO pass through
the winter with moisture content of
not more than II to - per cent.
Immediately after harvest, corn for
seed should be placed where 1t will
receive free ventilation. No two ears
should be allowed to touch. The ears
may be strung on binder Irvine and
hung from rafter, or where large
| amounts of seed are to be handled. spe-
cial drying houses are desirable with
numerous windows or panels which
will give free circulation of air, or a
stove 10 furnish artificial heat to hast
en- drying and prevent freezing.
This fall is the time to select Michi-
gan-grown corn for next years crop.
Corn from other states is often not well
adapted to Michigan conditions. To
insure a sufficient supply of good seed
corn to plant Michigan's crop the com
ing spring, therefore. the concerted ac-
ton of all Michigan corn growers in
selecting and storing it is needed
The important points to bear in mind
are these:
BY field selecting during late Sep
| TENDER and October the highest yield
ing ears can be saved.
About one corn grower in 100 in
Michigan selects seed corn in the field
before harvesting the main crop. If
every farmer field-selected, great In
crease In corn yield would result.
Seed corn of high vitality can only
be secured by drying rapidly, immedi-
ately after picking and storing, in ven
t!lated room.
Good seed cannot be secured from
| the crib.
Good seed means a good stand.
Planting poor seed results in frequent
ly missing hills. 1t costs as much 10
cultivate poor crop as good one.