Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-01

Farming in the Northwest
SUCCESS WITRe0RN IN the NORTHWEST
ARTICLE. ~
BY j. G. Haney Agricultural Extension Department,
- International Harvester Co. &

mature, and the ears are TOO Close 10
the ground. Northwestern Dent is a
cross between a dem and flint. and
does not reproduce uniformly, U
tends to go back to the flint. We
grow it six years and selected care
fully, but the results were not salts
factory and we quit growing it. 's e
The Minnesota No. IS seed from
which our best variety has been de-
rived, has nov been grown - North
Dakota over fourtee years. eight on
our Demonstration Farm at Grand
Forks. This corn has proven most
satisfactory in every respect. We
have selected and planted each year
the best ear from stalk of satisfactory
size. We find that corn must be care
fully selected each year, or it will run
QUIT will revert. But on account
Of this tendency it is more leaily i'm
proved by careful selection
Selection of Seed Corn.
The greatest problem in extending
corn growing in the northwest is in
getting varieties hat are acclimated.
Their are no varieties better adapted
than corn already being grown in a
given locality. The longer it has been
grown there, the more valuable is the
variety.
The law hat like produces like"
is the foundation upon which selec-
ton must be made. That poor seed
means a poor yield, no one will ,ques-
ton, but it is not so fully recognized,
but that. unless great pains be taken
to plant only the best seed, the corn
will gradually deteriorate OF run out,
as we often say. Corn requires much
greater care ito prevent deterioration
than most other crops, since it is
comparatively a new crop, as we
know it today, and its characteristics
have not been so thoroughly fixed
through centuries Of breeding as those
of many grains. but for the same rea-
son it is also much more susceptible
to Improvement by proper car and
selection.
Date to Select Seed Corn.
IT is perhaps impossible to set the
exact date when seed corn should be
selected. The more nearly mature
when gathered. the better. but it is
not safe to wait too long as a heavy
frost or freeze may eaken or kill
the germs. A good plan is to take a
grain sack, arranged similarly to the
way they are used in b~roadcasting
small grain. With this over one
shoulder, go into the field where the
best corn was planted, go down be-
tween the rows and select ears from
stalks hat are of proper height,
short jointed. broadleavcd. and grow
ing in full hills. Such stalks show
strong vitality. An o~verly-tall stalk
shows a weak constitution, the same
as a long legged, spindling horse or
steer. The stalk which is too short
has been stunted and it's vigor weak
ened.
A seed ear need not necessarily be
a large ear. but it should have the
essential points of a good a of corn,
A good sized, substantial coz is neces-
sary and the grains must be well
formed. ri.
Corn Maturity Essential.
Maturity is one OF the most inpor-
tant things to be considered, especial
ly in the northern part of the corn
belt. The late maturing varieties
grow large, and make a lot of feed
but this is not so essential as it is
that the corr be natured before liza
bility of damage by frost. If the sea-
son is a little short and the later Va
rieties are not matured. the corn is
badly damaged, and does not have
the feeding value of corn that ma
lures naturally.
i (The next article will handle the
storing and caring for seed corn.)