The Monmouth inquirer., 1925-10-15
Suitable Way to
Cure Seed Corn
Moisture Must Be Removed
From Ears Quickly to
Prevent Spelling.

Ears of corn that are picked for
seed usually have more moisture in
them than is suspected. Thirty per
cent or even more Of the weight Of an
ear is water. In air-dried ears the
moisture content will range from
about Is per cent and under. The sur
plus is removed through curing and
the sooner it is removed from the ears
the less will be the danger Of the seed
spelling. Moist corn will mold very
easily and then the vitality of the ker-
nels will be very much reduced. Fur
thermore, there is the danger of freez-
ing weather which entirely destroys
the seed if it is frozen. When seed
ears are once cured no amount of
freezing can injure them.
Reduce Moisture Content.
The chief problem then connected
with caring for the seed is to reduce
the moisture content as soon as pos
sible. Proper ventilation and the APP
plication of heat will do this. In many
years suitable ventilation is ali that
is required, especially when corn has
matured early and the fall weather is
warm and dry. But we cannot always
take for granted that this is the case,
If we could, ears selected from the
crib would be satisfactory to use. To
avoid all danger seed corn should be
cured in a place where there is an
opportunity to provide some heat in
case it is needed.
Since ventilation, to carry off the
moisture, is so necessary, the n
ought to be stored in such a way that
no two ears touch. This will provide
a free circulation of air about each
ear and it will thus cure in the short
est time possible and at the same time
all kernels will dry out equally. This
will make seed that will have the most
uniform termination. This may be
termed the i~ndividual-ear method of
storing and is always the safest to
use. Seed ears should never be stored
in sacks or in piles. 1t is ever IAN
gerous to pile one row on top of an
other, at least until the moisture con-
tent has been considerably reduced.
Useful %Stringers.
There are numerous devices that
might think of that will accomplish
this purpose. Corn stringers answer
the best, and any boy can make them.
Finishing nails driven into a piece of
board will do very well. The ears may
then be driven into place by showing
the nails into the pith of the cobs at
the butts. Care should be taken to
drive the nails far enough apart so
that when ears are arranged no two
touch, as already explained. One may
drive enough nails into a post that has
been fastened to a base so that it will
stand upright to accommodate a large
number of ears. Racks made out of
Iath will also do very well. In fact,
any scheme may be used which does
not permit the ears to touch each
other.
If the space occupied by the ears
during the curing process is not need
ed for anything else and if the corn
is protected from mice and rats, it
may be left where 1t is until testing
and planting time zones If it must
be removed then it should be packed
away in containers that are mouse
and rat proof and stored away in a
dry place. Air-dried corn will keep if
stored in a dry place, M matter how
cold it is. Any amount of freezing
will not injure seed ears when they
are once cured u