Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-10-09
Save Old Corn for
Use in Emergency
It Is Possible to Secure Seed
Supply if Gathered Before
Nipped by Frost.
prepared by the United States Department
of Agriculture

(Prepared by the United States Department
of Agriculture
Late spring and continuous cool
weather, together with the higher
prices now being paid for corn, may
be the combination of circumstances
which will cheat the farmer out of his
usual supply of seed corn, says the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture. Corn is very late as the result
of abnormal conditions at planting
time and much of it is apt to be
caught by frost before it has matured
to the stage usually regarded as right
for selecting seed. Then too, many
farmers had to replant large acre
age last spring, drawing more heavily
than they expected on their seed sup
ply. Finally, higher prices for corn
this fall have tended to reduce this
ol6,corn source of emergency seed.
The department says there is short
age of old seed and little old corn
from which to select it, and suggests
further the probability of immature
corn this fall from which seed selec-
ton Will nave TO De maze.
Save Some Old Ears.
Where immature corn is to be ex-
pected it is suggested that seed be Sc
lected from the. 1928 crop. Throw
aside a few bushels of the likely look
ing ears when feeding the corn or
otherwise disposing Of it in order that
seed may be selected from it later, If
necessary The ear test for germina-
ton will make available much seed
from this old corn which can be used
In an emergency.
AS q further precaution it is sug-
gested that even though corn is imma-
ture, it is possible to obtain seed if it
is gathered before frost and proper
ly handled. Most communities are in
touch with the weather reports to
such extent that coming frosts may be
known somewhat accurately. At the
first suggestion of frost, make selec-
ton Of new corn for seed. Corn gath
cred in the milk stage, while not as
good as ripe corn for seed, If carefully
dried and protected from the frost
will terminate under favorable condi-
lions. Satisfactory seed can be Sc
lected any time after the corn is in
the hard-dough stage. Even If not en-
tirely mature, the use of early select
ed seed of a strain known to be good
will be safer than to buy seed later
of unknown adaptation and produc-
tiveness.
Features Of Selection.
Where it is necessary to gather
seed before it has matured in order to
save it from destruction by frost, the
same features Of selection should be
observed. Select seed only from nor
NAL, vigorous plants, avoid smutted
stalks and those that are prematurely
dead. The seed should be put in a
dry place the same day it is gathered
and placed In such manner that the
ears do not touch each other and
where there is free circulation of
air but not cold enough to freeze.
The best seed, of course, is that
which has matured on the stalk. If
has been selected, second selection
can be made and the immature seed
can be used for feed. In this case the
only loss will be the labor of gather
ing and drying it. The precaution of
making an early selection is well
worth the extra effort. 1t is a guar
antee of soIae seed at least.