Year: 1879

In selecting seed-corn, observe the time of ripening, number of ears upon the stalk, size of the stalk and the per. lection of the ears. Corn which ripens earliest in the field, other things being favorable, is to be preferred. Choose from stalks that have two or three we'll developed ears, selecting the ear that grows low on the stalk. Ears which grow on long foot-stalks are obiectiona- ble. A full sized ear, on which the rows are regular, we'll filled out at the end and but little larger at the butt than in the middle, if it has ripened in good season and grows low on a moderate sized stalk and is taken from the stand ing corn, is first class for the variety to which it belongs.

 There is considerable diversity of opinion as to the precise period when the selection of seed-corn should be made. Some cultivators.. ..claim that seed gathered and dried in the sun as soon as the kernel is out of milk has more vital ity to withstand cold and damp after it is planted than that allowed to remain on the stalk until dead ripe. Others, and the larger class, urge that perfect maturity of seed is desirable, and all acknowledge the necessity of the thor ough drying of corn before the hard freezing weather of winter.

 An ear with large cob is not good keeper for the reason that the cob con- tains such quantity of sap that the ear is liable to retain dampness, especially if the season proves O warm and damp one. For this reason many farmers contend that the red cob corn is more to be depended upon than white-cob corn, the red cob as rule being smaller than the white cob. Red cobs Tn white corn, however, should be rejected, as the bran or chaff which remains among and adheres to the points of tho grain to some extent gives the shelled corn a tinged appearance which influences it's selling qualities in many markets.

 In selecting seed from yellow corn, the color may be changed from dark to light yellow by selecting light colored corn or vice vers0. When it is desired to retain the corn as you get it, the custom is to select both colors. If the crop from which you are choosing tends too much to chaff or bran, give preference to the more finty ears and you can soon remedy this difficulty.

 Alter having sun-dried their seed-corn the farmers of some sections store 1t in lofts of smoke-houses ill order that it may become permeated with the oder of meat undergoing smoking there and thus gain protection when in the ground against the depreciations of field. mice, ;worms, etc. The argument in favor of this practice is that the corn is thoroughly saturated with creosote, which is offensive to many pests, es. pecially squirrels.

 The grain should remain in the lot until spring, when it is carefully shelled by hand and every ear examined to make sure that it is sound and perfect. All small grains near the point of the cot should be discarded and only the perfect ones saved or.planting. The ears ought to be stored in dry place secure from rats and mice and where they will not be exposed to sudden changes of tenn. perature, which are liable to affect in juriously the germinating of the seed. An old-time practice still followed in many localities consists of pulling the husks back to the butt and brading the the ears together by them in long strings. These strings are then hung in some dry and well-ventilated place, as an attic or oft, until such time as tho corn is re. quired for planting.