DAIRY mh;etixg. 67 



the same manner with seed taken in accordance with the usual 

 custom on that farm, from the cribs in which the best corn had 

 been placed the jjrevious fall. All the fields were given the same 

 treatment. 



The ten acres yielded 96 bushels per acre ; the remaining 53 

 acres of the field, 94 bushels ; and the other fields 80 bushels per 

 acre. This shows an increase of 16 bushels per acre in favor 

 of ears selected for a single season with much care from good 

 stalks as compared with seed ears selected in the spring from a 

 crib. When continued year after year the well-selected seed 

 increases in superiority over that taken from the crib. What 

 then wovdd have been the increase had the seed been marked in 

 the field from the strong hills and best developed ears. 



I have seen men dip their seed corn from the bins, pick their 

 potatoes from the pile in the cellar and select their cows by the 

 one standard of pedigree, but I have yet to find one of tliis class 

 making a permanent success. Critical seed selection alone can 

 prevent seed deterioration, and only the honor of the seedsmen 

 saves from disaster those who do not and will not protect them- 

 selves. 



One who is reckoned a good farmer last spring purchased a 

 lot of sweet corn, saved for seed by a neighbor, ran the whole 

 through his corn sheller and planted ten acres for the factory. 

 If he was satisfied with the yield, what might it not have been 

 had he taken time to select his seed and then used only from the 

 centre of the ears. His field while looking well from a distance, 

 disclosed a large per cent of shorter, weaker and non-bear- 

 ing stalks upon close inspection. This is not to be the business 

 standard of 1909. For ensilage purposes the stalk should be 

 tall, rich, succulent, leafy and remain green and tender until the 

 ear has reached considerable development; but if ear corn is 

 the chief product desired, the qualities of the stalk should be 

 such as will best lead to the proper development and support 

 of one or more good ears. The productiveness of a stalk is, 

 of course, the point of most importance. A stalk great in cir- 

 cumference near the ground and tapering gradually to the tassel, 

 with sufiicient foliage of vigorous appearance, free from dis- 

 eases and bearing a good ear or ears at a convenient height, is 

 a desirable stalk from which to select seed. All seed, should be 



