Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-04-13


bers of inquiries are being received
relative to which is the best variety
of corn to plant and how seed corn
should be selected. For long time
we have conferred our attention on
the improvement of our animals
through selection and intensive
breeding. At first it did not occur
to us that these same methods, if
applied to farm crops, would show
highly beneficial results. Recently,
we have come to realize that plants
can be improved through systema-
tized breeding just as animals.
ing purposes has now become a mat
ter Of general concern to our far
mers. The conclusions presented are
based on years of study and obser-
walton and coincide with the plan
of procedure the Georgia State Col
advise members of the corn clubs to
follow.
There is no zone factor that has
more to do with the making of good
yields of corn than the seed you
plant. 1t matters not how rich your
soil may naturally be or how rich
you may make it by the application
of barnyard manure or commercial
fertilizer, or how thoroughly you
may prepare your seed bed unless
you have perfectly sound, well ma
tured seed, adapted to your own
climate and soils, you cannot expect
big yields.
Poor seed means a poor stand, a
poor stand means a small yield; a
small yield means no profit; hence
labor lost, or bad business. Every
body who has had experience in corn
growing has also had experience in
I"'replanting" corn. There is no rea-
q wi n anil n in
nearly every case the reason is poor
Seed But you did not know the
seed were poor until you had planted
and then it was too late. So every
care in selecting his seed corn and
| in testing it for termination before
| planting.
A simple method of testing seed
corn is to take box about the size
| Of an ordinary cracker box, and cut
| it down to a depth of four inches
| pack this full of sand or sawdust and
divide it up into squares of about
| two and one-half to three inches
each way by means of a Irvine string
running each way and fastened to
small nails in the edge Of the box.
This forms sort of checkerboard
| arrangement.
from one up, each ear of corn should
| be numbered to correspond with the
| square. Six kernels should be taker
| from each ear, two near the butt OF
| the ear, two near the middle, an6
| two near the tip, from different rows
| Place these in these squares, the
germ side up, and cover with damn
cloth and place in a room with 8
temperature between so and 60 de
grees. Keep there for six or sever
days. The cloth should be KEEP
moist but not wet. The germinatior
| fact fhnn hn rna6 ThnGn
that do not show strong termination
| should be discarded. For instance
| If two of the six kernels Of any par
| ticular ear do not show strong germ.
ination, 1 would discard that ear. Get
perfect termination and that will
stand of corn, with other conditions
being right, means large yields ant
| large yields mean more profit.
There are a great many unnamed
varieties in most communities thai
are good. The following varieties
| mended: Whatley's Prolific, Has"
ings' Prolific, Marlboro, Cookies Pr
| life, Shaw's Improved, Bats Pro
life, Albermarle, Sparks, Yates
Choices, College Cross and others.
The first step to take in planting
corn is to prepare a deep, well-pul.
verified seed bed. Good seed anC
proper cultivation cannot make III
for the lack OF Well-prepared SeeC
bed. If the seed bed is properly pre-
pared, the corn crop is at least hall
made when the corn is planted.
Corn may be planted in checks OF
in the drill, but the drill method is
most commonly practical, and is
| recommended.
Whether you plant on a small
| ridge or the level, or in a water
furrow," depends upon the drainage
of your land. If well drained il
should be nearly level, but if water
| is inclined to stand on the land
planting should be made on ridges
| just, high enough to carry off the
surplus water. If planted on lane
where damage is likely to occur
from drouth, it is well to plant in q
water furrow," provided the rows
do not run up and down the hill. AS
a general rule, it is recommended
that corn be planted as nearly or
the level as possible in order that
labor saving implements should be
used and by the use of which more