Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-09-28

heavy frosts, because of the fact tina
! freezing Of green corn lie certain u
injure the termination, IL not destroy
1t entirely. The most essential ster
in saving seed corn, after it has beer
gathered from the field, is to get II
thoroughly dried out as quickly as
possible.
Moisture Should be Removed
Promptly
There is no agency that will remove
moisture from seed corn like a free
circulation of dry air during the warm
days Of fall. This means that the corr
should be hung up or placed in racks,
so that there would be a perfect and
free circulation Of air about every
ear.
One of the simplest means for Sc
curing such results is to weave this
corn into strings, or tie them together
so that when they are hung up on the
rafters or joists, where there is a free
circulation of air and the carr will not
touch. Everyone should be familiar
with the different methods Of hanging
up corn with strings. There are of
course many racks of different kinds
that can be used for this purpose. The
Northwest Seed Corn Rack, has
proved most satisfactory on the /. H.
G. Farm.
The Northwest Seed Corn Rack
The Northwest Seed Corn Rack is
made by lacking a square mesh
woven wire on a frame Aka feet, made
of 2x4s. The wire is put on each side
of the frame with the meshes exactly
opposite, so that the ears may be put
through thu two meshes. Except
where the ears lie on the wires, they
do not come in contact with anything,
and a dry out rapidly.
The bottom Of the frame is set up
foot. which admits of a free cireu-
lation Of air under the racks, and
makes il possible to put tin around
the legs to prevent mice from getting
at the corn. Feet may also be nailed
on the bottom of the legs so that the
rack viii stand alone.
Sixty of these racks are in use on
the ]. II. c. Farm, Grand Forks, N.
Oak. each holding about 700 ears of
.orn. They are set so that there is
six or eight inches between them to
allow a free circulation of air. This
of putting a very large
amount Of corn in a small space, and
he drying is remarkably rapid. II
axes very little time to put the corn
n these racks, and it stays there until
AIKEN out. These racks may be set in
spare room or hung in the attic or :
furnace room. When dry the corn J
must be kept from dampness, and ex-
changes of temperature.
When time to test the corn for ger
iination. each tenth ear on the racks
nay be numbered by putting a nail
through a piece of paper and pushing =
he nail into the pith of the cob. 1t is :
ne most satisfactory means of keep
~ ears in place while testing that we
ever fried. We have tested 40,- j,
ears in one season. .
The wire used is an ornamental :
'nee wire and is not expensive, so c
rat the racks do not cost much, and
will give service almost indef- .
Iitely. Every farm on the north edge
the corr belt should have racks of +,
lis kind. They are permanent, and J.
ways a ready reminder of the need l
gathering seed corn. p
Heat Ordinarily Unnecessary :
Ordinarily it is Unnecessary to APP +,
artificial heat in drying seed corn.
This is particularly true if atten- n
on is given to proper ventilation of n
e space in which the corr is stored. :,
t least no heat should be applied to d
e drying green seed corn for several n
Tvs after it has been gathered. Heat :,
piled to green corn is liable to start i
as the corn is damp and :;
the best possible shape to start =
When termination starts, :,
ID then is checked again by drying -
freezing, the termination is weak =
ed, if not entirely killed. After the
ed has been partly dried by a cir
lation Of air there is no harm in
some heat TO aid in drying.
Where to Store Seed Corn
ter the seed corr has been selected
d dried by hanging, it should be
red some place for the colder part
the winter. 1t has been our ex-
that il is almost impossible
get corn sufficiently dried before
weather, so that it can be
I in barns or granaries without ser
- UaiifakSs ina1 iSs bftttt Sutulu
some place selected that will have
title artificial heat, and at the same
lie be thoroughly dry. 1t has been da
md that the attic Of the house. or
furnace room, are the most desir-
G places for storing seed corn.
st houses are built with attics in
ich it would be easy to store -
ugh seed corn for planting the Oh
m. Or in many houses, where
is a spare room, this could not
devoted to . more useful purpose
n the storing Of some good corn.
the same time it would be where
be selected and worked over Ju
ing the early part Of the spring. tar
'ome of the poorest places for stor- Gao
seed corn are in cellars where J
re are potatoes and other vegeta- Gu
which give off large amounts of
sture. Also the horse barn or {
itry house, where moisture col AZ
8 during cold weather, are very ne,
r places. Over bins of grain that :
not thoroughly dry when put in Of