The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-09-18
FARMERS URGED
|. TO Save SEED
Richards Issues Warning
Of Scarcity of Corn
For Next Year 49,

The farmers of Cass county are
of the most important Of the autumn
activities by w. B. Richards, county
agricultural agent. Mr.. Richards
urges particular promptness on the
part Of the farmers as the period
when the seed may be gathered will
soon be past.
Mr.. Richards has issued the fol-
lowing open letter on the subject:
Il believe most of the farmers of
Cass. county realize the value Of
saving the home grown corn for
seed, providing they have a good
maturing variety. There IS danger,
however, due to the scarcity of help
and other difficulties for our farm
| ers to neglect doing this, this year
at the proper time. AS difficult as
| it is going to be for the farmer to
get seed corn picked it is question
able whether it will not pay him to
neglect something else and assure
himself of some seed corn for next
year that he can rely upon to give
results. In case it would be pos
sible to buy good seed corn adapted
to our conditions for next years
planting and every one be assured
of supply there would not be
grounds for urging our farmers to
go to the time and expense this fall
to pick seed corn. Unfortunately the
supply of home grown seed corn
next spring will be limited This
will be due to the fact that the acre
age of corn adapted to our condi-
tions grown this year is limited and
the early frost has prevented much
corn from. ripening that would have
done so if it had been given a little
more time. Also a smaller amount
Of the corn we have fit for seed will
be preserved than usual due to the
labor scarcity.
II find there are a large number
Of farmers throughout the county
who have corn that has matured
sufficiently to make desirable seed
corn and I wish to urge them to
pick enough for their own use and
enough to help supply their neigh
bors who are not. so fortunate, pro-
viding there is any possible way~this
can be brought about. It is an i'm
portant matter. We cannot hope to
improve the early maturing quality
of corn if we are obliged to get new
seed each year from a locality
where the Season is longer.
Corn does not have to. be fully
iIldLuE0 u uldh6 d SOOu. La1T quality.
Of seed and If we'll dried and proper
ly cured If in the dough it will make
a desirable grade Of seed corn, par
ticularly as far as termination is
concerned. 1t is better to use this
corn If 1T has proven early in the
past than to lose the strain and run
the chance of getting an undesirable
corn.
ITO get the seed corn picked in
the field represents only part of
| the labor and effort to get Eood seed
corn. Under our conditions great
care must be given to get the corn
| thoroughly dry before freezing
weather begins. The less mature
the corn the more care must be ex-
ercised. To insure drying the corn
should be hung where there is arti-
| fetal heat and plenty of movement
of air. There is no better place than
the attic OF the house through
which the chimney or stove pipe
| passes. r.. - ... 80.
IT have said nothing about using
care as to the quality Of the ears to
be used, the position on the stalk.
and numerous other things it is
well to observe, Much care should be
given these things, but under pres
ent conditions on our farms too
much time cannot be given to minor
points in preserving the supply Of
seed corn .'.s g..