Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-09-04
EARLy sELE0riok oT
sEEp CORN sEcoMgs
IMPORTANT THIS YEAH

@ tWPOhvANI VVt0 N6AN
II will be more important this year
TO. pick seed corn before frost than 1t
has ever been. In the first place we
are engaged in great war and the
country faces national situation such
as we have never seen before. We are
confronted with shortage OF all kinds
of foodstuffs as we'll as a shoftesA OF
seed for planting the next years crop
unless proper precautions are taken
now.
Another factor which makes the
seed corn situation extremely danger
GUS is that corn is late this year ana
will be very likely to be damaged by
frosts IL left in the field even ptho
frosts hold of extremely late. The en-
tire situation makes 1t necessary dhat
every farm should be supplied with
plenty of seed corn picked nom the
field before there IL any danger OF
frosts. 1t will be the best and cheap
est insurance that we have for sue
cessful corn crop another year.
Two wears ago orr corn was de-
stroyed early by an early frost and in
many sections of the state there was
not more than enough seed corn TO
plant one fourth Of the acreage put
in corn Consequently 1t was neces-
sary for different organizations to es-
tablish ttesting stations turnout the
state and to test corn taken from the
CRIBS. This was the only possible hope
of securing seed corn enough; and yet
every one can remember that the seed
no that could he
secured was very poor compared to
what 1t should have been.
Shortage of Seed.
Last year there was plenty OF time
for corn to mature and there was not
a great amount of seed corn saved. AS
a result this year when We made an
attempt to increase the acreage we
had the surprising situation that there
was not enough seed corn saved 20
plant the acreage prepared for corn.
And IL it had not been tor the fact that
the seed corn In the cribs was OF the
very best and perhaps better than, ~
has been for good many years, the
nation would have faced a shortage
of foodstuffs much more serious even
than 1t is at the present time.
It would have been nothing less than
national calamity and would have
meant hardships for many farmers In
the corn belt.
The nation can not AFFORD to take
chances on such conditions next year,
and az individual farmers 1t will DO
our patriotic duty to see to it that Wa
have seed corn enough for Ourselves
and some to spare, and at the same
time that we are performing this seFv-
ice for the nation we are providing
for best kind Of protection for our
selves.
with the present prices Of all kinds
Of products, and the<unfavorable sit
uation which we now confront we do
not know what the prospects Of the
future may be. OF one thing We can
be certain and that In this. that IL seed
corn can be had at all under favorable
conditions we can rest assured that 1t
will cost US more than 1t has ever cost
before. The man Of prudence and fore
sight will avoid the occurrence Of these
conditions and will have seed corn TO
sell rather than to by.
II there should be q seed corn short
age next year there will be no possible
excuse for " to offer. We have been
reminded year after year during the
last few years Of the necessity OF taxi
ing the simplest kind Of precautions to
insure our corn crop--the principal
money crop that We are growing In
this section. Yet how many each year
spend the small amount Of time neces-
sary to safeguard their next years
crop? How many at the last minute In
the spring place themselves in the class
with those who have to scramble
around for seed corn for their own
farmf
Occasionally there are eircum- |
stanoes which make il impossible for
some to avoid this. but they are very
rare. We have the reputation in Iowa |
for practicing the best systems Of agri- |
culture known. But yet the neglect OF
seed corn which is the most important
factor in the production Of our corn
crop is a disgrace to the intelligence
OF our farming classes.
Frost Comes Early.
Let us remember that the average
date for the hard frosts In Iowa Is
about Oct. 20. The first killing frost
may come even earlier than this date
and with the condition OF seed corn as
it is this year. most Of 1t will not be
out Of the way OF danger a. this time.
Ordinarily on the average about Sept.
20 corn contains about 81 per cent Of
water. At Sept. 81 about 81 per cent
Of water. Oct. 9, 40 per cent of water.
Oct. 49,, Is per cent OF water. Nov. 7,
about 20 per cent OF water. These are
avera pe deternnin a ton. ~ the moisture
in our corn and they indicate why 1t
is that the hard frost Injuries corn
standing in the field.
There are several good ways Of pick
ing seed corn and every one will have
to adopt the methed best suited to his
needs II a large amount Is to be
gathered II may be advisable to use the
wagon and to pick the corn UP from
the piles thrown on the ground. Or in
some cases simply to dump 1t into the
wagon Immediately after picked. A
very convenient and simple method is
.thS1 Of using a sack with the mouth
held open bye a key hoop and strung
over the shoulders by rope or strap.
The corn should be hung up In q good
place to dry as soon after being picked
az possible 80 that the ears do not
touch each other.
Seed corn can be stored in dry,
well ventilated cellar. furnace ROOM
store room. shed or any place where
there In good circulation Of air, and
where there IL no danger Of early
freezing. Avoid such places ~ q stable
over or near stock. over oats or corn,
damp cellars or any places where there
Is not good ventilation. Corn should
not hang out in the trees or up against