The Crittenden press., 1920-09-03
Agricultural Column
By G. N. GUMBERT

The average production of corn
to the acre for the entire United
Stats is but 26 bushels, yet in prac.
tically every section four times that
quantity is frequently produced. I'm.
provement Of the quality of seed is
the least expensive method of in
creasing the yield per acre, yet every
year our farmers neglect this i'm
portant task and many are actually
guilty Of planting nubbins taken from
the crib just before planting time
There is each spring a scarcity Of
good seed corn. This condition is
all the more regrettable because IL
need not exist, and it is much more
serious than is commonly supposed
because many do not fully realize
the tremendous loss to themselves
and the country due to planting in
ferior seed. A full stand Of plants
may be obtained from inferior seed
but the yield will not be the best
possible.
The seed corn show | held last
spring served TO show that many
Crittenden county farmers do not
select their seed corn in the fall,
consequently do not store it or test
before planting and as a result, plant
inferior seed which often results in
poor stand and low yield. Make
seed corn gathering special task.
At corn ripening time drop all other
business and select an abundance of
seed corn. The process is too i'm
portant to be conducted while husk-
ing because it requires your entire
attention. One or two days spent
in gathering and preserving seed
corn will increase your yields and
will return you more profit than any
other work you can do on your farm.
The only proper way to select seed
corn is from the stalks standing
where they grow, rs soon as ripe
and before the first hard freeze.
As soon as the crops mature, 20
thru the field with a seed picking
bag and husk the ears from the
stalks that have produced the most
corn without having any special ad-
vantages, such as space, moisture,
or fertility. Avoid the large ears
on stalks standing singly, with an
unusual amount Of space around
them. Late maturing plants with
ears which are heavy because Of an
excessive amount of sap should be
ignored. Due to our abundant rain
fall this year, much corn has shown
tendency to grow tall stalk at
expense Of grain. All other things
being equal. short thick stalks are
preferable because they permit thick
er planting, are not so easily blown
or broken down and in general are
more productive than slender ones.
Avoid stalks that produce suckers.
Select leafy stalks with ears not too
high but which hang down at an
angle afording drainage for the
tips.
Store the seed in a dry place
where there is free circulation Of air,
and in such a manner that ears do
not touch each other. During warm
weather moist ears heat or mildew
in very short time and for this
reason should not be left in a sack
or pile for even day after gather
ing. The vitality Of the seed may
also be reduced by drying too quick
ly or freezing during storage. Bin.
der twine can be used to support id
or 20 ears and these strings can then
be- hung in the loft out Of the reach
Of mice or rats.
| trust that our progressive farm.
ers will select their seed corn this
fall and exhibit their choice samples
at our seed corn show next spring