The Sauk Centre herald., 1917-09-27
CORN CROP CONDI.
TI0N VERY SERIOUS
CENTRAL MINNESOTA FARMERS
WILL HAVE DIFFICULTY SE.
CURING SUFFICIENT SEED.
URGED TO use EXTREME CARE
PROPER HANDLING AND STOR.
ING OF SEED MAY SAVE
SITUATION.

The corn crop was never so back
ward in Minnesota as it is this fall.
When the general frosts of early
September caught us there was not
a ripe field anywhere in the state.
The later frost of September 9th and
10th, did not find ten per cent of the
corn dented. This makes the seed
situation doubly serious. The seed
dealers cannot be relied upon to
supply the needs next spring. Not
one of them has proper storage
plant to care for the corn as it will
come from the field this fall. In
view of these facts there are a few
pointers and ungent requests which
the state foods committee wishes to
place before the farmers in order to
make the most that can be made out
Of an unfortunate situation.
Minnesota will need 10000 bushels
of seed corn for 1918 spring planting.
2. 92 per cent of the states corn
crop is grown south of line drawn
through st. Cloud.
3. The average acreage OF corn
per farm in Minnesota is. approxi-
mateyl 20. The average farmer needs
at least 8 bushels of seed corn not
counting for FODDER.
4. Fifteen to rs ears of corn are
required to plant an acre under nor
NAL conditions.
5. Thirty to so ears of this years
corn will be required to give good
seed for each acre planted in 1918.
g.. If picked Immediately and
hung up in an airy place to dry,
z. Each farmer should save enough
for himself and three others so we
may not be short in 1919.
8, For larger amounts of seed TO
sell, Gu tthe fields at once and shock
the corn in medium to small shocks.
Allow, the ears to field cure then
husk the best ears and store in a
room where there is plenty of air
circulation, and if possible where "a
little heat may be applied to insure
perfect drying and curing. This we
urge upon every farmer whose corn
was beginning to dent when the frost
came.
9. If your corn is not frosted or
but very slightly frosted it will not
be necessary to take action at once.
But for best quality of seed the
corn should be cut as soon as the
majority of the ears are dented. This
forces the drying of the corn and in
8 or a weeks it will be ready to husk
and store in, the seed room. The
binary Corn crib is NO place for
/ seed corn.
1 even after the ears are dry.
/ H., Test each individual ear for
termination before shelling for seed.
IL. Leave the corn on the ear until
just before planting, then tip and
butt the ears and shell the middles
together for seed. II
13. Don't forget that corn stover
from fields cut when the corn is in
the dough stage is valuable feed for
cattle. Horses may be wintered on
stover and sheep will eat the leaves
and husks with. relish.
II. Good corn for feeding will he
scarce. What about keeping and
feeding hogs and cattle? For the
hogs plant fall rye and early spring
pasture, they can in this way be kept
and an increase looked forward To
with profit. The cattle can be winter
ed on the stover and soft corn.
These are strenuous times for all.
Every one must sharpen his pencil
extra fine and figure to the last
fraction for food supply and q
meager profit. We must help others
as we hav never done before. Crops
Division Of Minnesota State Soods
Committee. as 49, .r,.. ,s..''+ -,
c1vrHT n,,firyt,r;; .13t ese4,