The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1923-08-31
COJJV Y
AGEN 7
NOTES


is an old proverb that applies to grow
ing corn, and the growing of Sheridan
COunty's 1924 corn crop should begin
at once. Every corn grower should
pick a supply of glazed seed at the
earliest possible date and then pick
more seed until the first killing frost.
Farmers in localities that sometimes
have no seed because the previous sea-
son was too dry or too short, may in
sure themselves by saving each fall a
supply of seed torn sufficient for two
years planting. Good seed corn well
cured will retain good termination
and high productivity for three years.
Seed Must Be Cared For
Corn has been transported from a
land of perpetual summer where the
returning wet season permitted the
seed to terminate without having en-
dured winter conditions. 1t has been
introduced into Iorthern localities
where the winters are severe. 1t has
shown a remarkable ability to adapt
itself to short summers, but it is de-
pendent upon man b care for its seed
during the winter. Therefore, seed
corn should be picked before killing
frost.
Pays One Dollar An Hour
No one should ALLOW the first killing
frost to come, (usualy the first two
weeks in September without having
sufficient seed for at last one years
planting stored where t cannot be in
jured by unfavorable weather condi-
tions. The average tanner who picks
corn from his own zelda week or two
before killing frost and who stored
that seed in an airy phce where the
ears do not touch and where they will
not freeze before they re dried out,
will get paid on the aveage at least
a dollar an hour for his time. Field
selected seed should be picked several
weeks before the corn is dry enough
to husk and crib.
Early Maturity Is Undesirable
To get the largest yieRs of corn,
it is desirable to get a Nriety that
will use nearly all the growing season
of the average year. In seaons short
er than the average, much the corn
will not dry enough to escpe injury
from freezing. In such seaons, field
selection is necessary to ohain seed
that will grow. In some varities con-
tinued early selection will ted to re-
duce the number of days reqtred for
maturity by as much as a wee or ten
days. In Montana this earhess is
desirable and will not reduce te yield
if other factors are properly caed for.
Indications OF Early Eros
In years like the present onewhen
June, July and August are annually
cool and rainy, it is of altogetht ex-
traordinary importance to go thr the
| field in late August and pick one hsh-
ell of the best matured ears for ach
three acres which are to be plantedhe
following spring. Weather cOnditns
! indicate frost damage to seed corn It's
year. On the other hand in years f
heat and drought during July and A.
gust, there is almost never any DANCE
of frost damage to seed corn. In sue
years it may be perfectly safe to de
lay picking the seed corn until regu
lar husking time. To be on the SAT
side, however, it is we'll to make j
an invariable rule to pick and hang u
one week before the average date o
killing frost one bushel of seed cor
for each three acres to be planted tn
/ following spring.
Cause OF Freezing Injury
The following quotation from Ne
braska Bulletin 1913 gives the followin
/ causes for freezing injury:
"The underlying causes Of freezin
injury are late maturity of corn an
abnOTmally early freezing weather
Late maturity may result from Il
late planting, ~ planting Of una
dapted varieties, and 81 peculia
/ weather conditions which do not favo
early ripening. Undue early freezin
may work similar injury to corn whiC
, would possess strong vitality unde
normal weather conditions. When sui
jected to severe frost, immature cor
suffers a partial or total loss of gel
minating power.
"The germ in a sound kernel
corn in an embryonic living plant wit
stalk, leaves and root. When this Liz
ing germ contains a large amount {
moisture some physical or chemic.
change is brought about by freezin
which results in 1eath. Followin
this the germ usually tUrns darker
color which is a fairly safe index as
whether or not The termination h
been destroyed.
GAS the moisture content Of the COZ
decreases, the injury n the vitality /,
the kernel by exposure tC any give
freezing temperature IS decrease
Dry corn containing 10 to IA Per cel
of moisture will not re injured by an
amount Of winter freezing Air-dl
corn with moisture content o. 10
u per cent Will withstand freeziT
temperature of liquid az or 100
below zero. On the other nand, col
with go per cent moisture may
killed by prolonged exposure to ear
freezing temperatures. There ma
be variation in the moisture cOntel
Of kernels on the same ear which w
account for partially impaired gerr
nation of tn Gear. In 1915 as much
is per cent variation was found in Il
moisture of such kernels"
How To Select Seed
A seed corn cart is one of the mo
convenient aids in gathering SCI
corn. 1t calls attention to the neces
ity of getting into the field before Il
first frost to select the seed ears.
wooden soap box fastened upon a pa
of iron wheels similar to cultivat
! wheels. and a couple of poles f