68 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



tested in early spring to determine its germinating power, before 

 being put into the ground. If fully matured, properly cured 

 and handled, practically every kernel will come. This is the 

 experience of those most critical in growing. I was surprised 

 the past season in attempting a little work with yellow corn to 

 see how rapidly it changed when the suckers were cut out, and 

 this I believe to be an important step in profitable corn growing 

 where yield of grain is the objective point, surely when seed is 

 wanted. Not once but thrice at least should every hill marked 

 for seed be visited and all off-shoots or false shoots removed. 

 It is "the weak stalks which reduce the yield both of stover and 

 mature corn and to eliminate the largest possible per cent of 

 these is both a duty and privilege with the grower. An author- 

 ity says. "Before the corn comes into tassel, or even earlier, a 

 few rows may exhibit marked weakness. Such rows should 

 have the tassels pulled from all the stalks as soon as they show 

 plainly in the top of the stalks and before pollen is discharged. 

 In the same manner the tassels should be pulled from all the 

 undesirable stalks in all the rows. Undesirable stalks consist 

 of barren stalks, stalks with many suckers, feeble or very slender 

 stalks, smutty stalks, etc. If detasseled in time, the transmis- 

 sion of these characters to the next generation will be pre- 

 vented." 



The one object is to mature the^ largest quantity of seed, 

 stronger in germinating power than that planted in the spring, 

 and stronger also in power of resistance to possible injurious 

 influences and diseases. To insure this, as well as to hasten 

 complete maturity, every obstruction must be removed. A far 

 too common practice in selecting seed is to save the ears from 

 the largest, stoutest stalks at cutting or husking time, but this 

 will hardly suffice under conditions prevailing today. The 

 tallest stalks do not mature the largest or best formed ears, but 

 those of medium length, stout at the base, and with abundance 

 of broad well developed leaves. Such stalks should be marked, 

 the suckers or false shoots removed, and any tendency to excess- 

 ive setting of ears checked, the one object being the production 

 of seed likely to increase yield and value of future crops. 



To emphasize frequent light cultivation, the removal of all 

 weeds and non-bearing stalks, and the conservation of moisture 



