The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-09-24
Time to Select
Seed Corn
Stalks Standing in the Field
Offers Best Opportunity
For Intelligent Selection

Seed corn for next seasons
planting should be selected in the
field from the standing stalks in
September. The disappointing
search for good seed corn every
spring should be q sufficient reason
for following this practice. strongly
advocated by the United States
Department Of Agriculture. Any in
telligent farmer can go into his
own cornfield when the corn is ma
ture and select hish-grade seed if
he has planted suitable types of
corn and cultivated properly. If he
has joined a country movement to
develop certain standard varieties
of corn which grow in that locality,
and if he has raised these strains on
his own land. he may reasonably
expect a market for any surplus
seed.
County Agents Report Progress.
Various methods were followed
last fall by the county agents OF
Northern and Western States in
ers that field selection of corn was
a good thing which would pay for
nv trouble involved. Similar tao
tics may we'll be used this season
where for one reason or another
the local people are not in the hab-
it Of field-selecting their seed corn.
In Steele County. MINI. selec-
ton between September 10 and
September 20 was urged. The
Week of September "a was chosen
as good seed corn week in Nance
County, Nebr. 1t seems likely that
the corresponding dates this year
will be the best time to go out into
the field and choose the most prom
ising ears, noting the character OF
the plants on which they grow and
the details which indicate a vigor-
Gus and healthy condition.
The county agent for Dakota
County. Mimi. reports that a perm
anent and reliable source OF seed
corn is being developed by getting
certain farmers in the county to
specialize in seed corn work. They
are asked to produce a dependable
type of improved corn and to put
in facilities for drying and storing
| it properly. The average farmers
are also encouraged to select their
own seed, but the definite work OF
! safeguarding the seed corn supply
of the county is being carried on
with few men who are really COM
petent to produce certified seed
corn and equipped to handle 1t.
Eventually it is hoped that there
will be a man in every township
doing this seed corn work and,
where possible. having seed corn
houses in which to dry it.
In Scott County Mimi. last year,
4.30O acres of selected seed were
tplanted. For their 1921 planting
SO farmers field-selected their seed
corn. and all had a surplus to sell.
Stearns County has 3 co-operators
in seed corn work. Minnesota No.
13, Rustless White Dent. and
Northwestern Dent were the Varle-
! ties used. Some of this certified
seed was awarded to 80 farmers
with their farm bureau renewal,
thus insuring good distribution
for this year. The boys and girls
of the county include field selection
of seed corn in their club work.
Jndiana Has School. ChiIdren'S
Contest.
Indiana has been especially ac-
tive in emphasizing the importance
! of having every farmer field-select
his seed corn from the standing
stalks. The July report of the coun-
ty agent leader for Indiana states
! that in White County a unique pro-
position was placed before the
children in six rural township
schools this spring. The pupil and
! father were to pick out the best
bushel OF seed corn to be found IN
the seed at home. This was to be
planted on one side of field, for
Identification. Then this fall the
pupil is to pick out 80 or 40 ears
from the standing stalks for SEED
and later in the winter bring the
best 10 ears to the local county
schools where shows will be held.
The best 10 ears from each school
will then compete with the other
schools of the township and the
best from the town with the rest
of the county Six hundred and
thirty-nine youngsters promised to
try.
The agent for Washington Coun-
ty Ind. mailed circular letters and
publications on the subject to all
the farmers of his county in the
fall. and had demonstrations given
at the schools for the younger gen
Grafton. The rural teachers IN this
county include seed selection of
corn as a project in their aGrlcul-
tural work.
In spite of the development OF a
very successful central seed corn
testing association in Rush County.
Ind. for several years. it is the
opinion of the county agent that
the testing alone can not be de-
pended on for eliminating corn
diseases. Soil conditions and the
heredity of the seed corn are fac
tors which affect the growth OF the
corn. and the latter of these can
be controlled by more careful Sc
! lection of seed corn in the fall
from the field.
Field Selections i'll Some New