Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-09-07
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Selecting Seed Corn for 1921.
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Georgia has a small army of boys
who are members of the corn clubs.
These boys have demonstrated that
they can raise larger yields of corn
than those ordinarily grown. Much
of the corn they raise is also of a
superior type. This has been shown
by the exhibits made at our various
fairs. In spite of all the progress
which has been made in the direction
of corn improvement through seed
selection, much still remains to be
DONE Hence, it seems both adv1sa-
BILE and desirable that a brief sum-
mary of some of the more important
points relating to this matter should
be placed before our readers at this
time. To that end, the general adj
vice and directions which the Geor-
gia State College of Agriculture has
found desirable to follow in refer
ence to this matter are presented
for the information of all who are
concerned in the cultivation and ham
ding of the corn crop.
lust as successful breeding and
Improvement of live stock depend
more upon the selection of the in
dividual animal than upon the breed
itself, so the successful breeding
and growing of corn depends more
upon the selection of the individual
ear and stalk from which the ear
is grown than the variety of corn
1t is true that the variety, like the
breed, goes a long way, but just as
the breed can be taken and bred up
to high degree of efficiency, even
and likewise bred up to a high point
as a yielder, and it is urged that
corn club boys use the same care
and caution in selecting the seed
corn as they do in selecting their
pigs and calves.
The proper time to select corn is
in the fall before it is harvested, but
after it is thoroughly matured. De-
sirable stalks, however, may be not
ed any time during the year and
so marked as to know where to find
them when the time comes to select
the seed. 1t is very desirable to
know the stalk that produces the
father or mother of calf or pig you
buy. Field selection gives one an
opportunity to thus study the ind1-
vidual stalk.
The size of the ear will depend
upon the variety of corn grown, but
grown the ears should be around ten
inches in length, nearly cyllndr1-
cal in shape; that is, not too taperz
ing having straight rows OF SOUND,
bright, well-matured kernels Of uni
form shape, size and color. The tip
OF the ear SIOulu ne WS11 SOfC1Co
with shuck and should hand point
downward in order to shed the wa
ter The size of the cob is an i'm
portant feature to consider, and it's
diameter should be about nalf that
of the entire ear or the length OIL
two kernels placed end to END. rms
will give a depth to the kernels,
still more important feature to con-
slider. The ears of prolific varieties
are considerably smaller than those
of the large varieties. The ears
vary from six to ten inches in length
A desirable stalk is one of medium
height, somewhat broad at the base,
but tapering gradually to the top
and having plenty of broad blades.
1t should be entirely free of smut Or
other diseases, and should not be
located as to have ADVANTAGE oyer
TeIopin Is. It should also be free
of suckers and should bear it's ears
about four feet from the ground, as
ears at that height are in easy
reach for gathering and are not in
clined to pull the stalk down during
WindstormS.
After the corn is selected. it
should be shucked and stored in a
dry, well-ventilated place, free from
rats and mice. A very simple way
is to bind the ears together with
binder Irvine and hang in the attic:
for an acre, but many times this
amount should be selected for future
use or sale. Let field selection of
seed corn become a habit.
In order that every acre may do
its duty in producing a maximum
crop, it Is suggested to corn club
boys that they grow some crop
along with their corn, such as beans,
velvet beans, cowpeas or peanuts.
They do not materially reduce the
field and the presence of such crops
in the corn will count fifteen points