The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-10-12
THE SELECTION, DRYING
AND STORING OF SEED CORN

tors IN c0nnecClOn WIFI lie PAouoN
ton of a large yield of corn is good
seed. By good seed 1 mean seed OF
the desired type and variety, intelll-
gently selected and carefully stored,
and adapted to our climatic condl-
tions. Many farmers do not realize
the importance and value of good
seed corn. One of the laws OF ma
ture is that ''like produces like" ana
we should always keep this law in
mind when selecting seed of any
kind. Experiments have shown that
good seed will increase the yield
from 4 to 5 bushels per acre; IN
MANY cases the increase is even
greater.
Good seed corr not only means IN
creased yields, but a better, quicker
and a more uniform stand. Good
seed corn will be worth from S3.OO
to $500 per bushel next spring.
Time spent in the field selecting seed
corn this fall will more than pay for
ieself in increased yields at harvest
time next fall. Make an experiment
and try it out.
Seed corn should be harvested
when the corn is thoroughly mature,
as indicated by the stalk, the leaves
and the ear.
Go into the field with a sack
around the shoulders before the gen.
eral crop is harvested and select the
best ears from the most productive
plants. The corr a also be select
ed by mailing a box on either side of
the wagon bed and throwing into
these boxes the desired ears, when
the general crop is harvested. This
is not dsirable for two reasons: (1)
most farmers gather their general
crop too late, and (2) everybody is
not qualified to select seed corn.
Ears should be selected from
strong, healthy vigorous stalks, and
avoid very large and small stalks.
Choose uniform stalks that have
made large yields because of their
inherent producing power, rather
than because of a good environment,
such as space, fertilizer land mois-
ture. Of two stalks producing a
good ear each, n because of its
environment. fertilizers, moisture,
space), the other because of its in
herent qualities, also choose the lat
ter. It is best to select ears grown
4 or 5 feet from the ground; never
select ears produced too high or too
low on the plants. Select ears that
taper gradually, we'll covered with
shucks, and long downward at an
angle. The shanks should be strong
and form an angle of about as de-
grees with the stalk. The shuck pro-
tects the ear from insects and rain;
if the ear points downward it is also
protected from the rain. Select ears
that have we'll filled out butts and
tips, straight rows and close togeth-
er, the kernels long, broad and thick.
1t is best to select plants bearing
one good ear rather than two infer
Tor ones. Do not select ears that
mature too early or too late. 1t takes
about 20 or rs Ear to plant an acre
and it is desirable to select about
so ears for every acre to be planted
so that a final selection can be made
in the spring at planting time.
The drying and storing of seed
corr is as important as the selection.
When the corn is harvested it always
contains from Is to 20 per cent of
water. This water causes moulding,
fermenting Or injury to the seed.
There is a little germ or immature
plant in every seed that must be
very carefully kept if the seed is to
maintain its vitality, hence the i'm
portance of drying and storing. AS
the ears are brought from the field
they should be stored in a dry, we'll
ventilated place in such a way that
there will be a free circulation of
air around each ear of corn. This
is best done by stringing the ears on
Irvine in a horizontal position so that
the ears will be placed one above
the other but not touching. This
can also be done by taking some
scrap lumber and building a rack
with shelves in it to store the corn.
Such a rack is inexpensive and can
be constructed in an hour. The corn
is now placed in a dry, we'll ventil-
ated place for keeping. The seed
corn should not be thrown in the
crib in piles when harvested because
it is not properly dried. If weevils
-1k k1 A. ->- H.