SEED CORN. 41 



uses, market and climate, which has prolific parentage, 

 through the largest series of generations possible. In order 

 for this, we must plant our seed fields by themselves, away 

 from other corn. We must then at the period just preceding 

 the bloom go through our fields with a knife and ruthlessly 

 cut away every feeble stalk, every overgrown stalk, every 

 stalk which departs from the type of growth that we desire, 

 and above all, of everv stalk which does not show indications 

 of bearing several strong ears. In this way only can we 

 ensure the fertilization of our seed corn by pollen from pro- 

 ductive plants ; and in this way only can we intelligently 

 keep the heredity of the plant in the direction of the con- 

 tinued prolificacy that we should desire. 



Who will give us this seed corn ? The Waushakum corn 

 was thus treated during the season of 1877, and noth with- 

 standing the great destruction among the plants, the harvest 

 was 77 bushels per acre. Not a large yield it is true, but 

 this seed was all fertilized by pollen from prolific stalks, and 

 must give results in the coming year beyond what it has pre- 

 viously done. Thus far 123 bushels has been our maximum 

 crop ; but with this seed we should expect more under like 

 circumstances of season and manuring. We hope in a few 

 years to bring the capacity of our seed equal to a 200 bushel 

 crop, and the more we improve our seed the more ready we 

 shall be to increase our purchase of artificial fertilizers, which 

 we use largely, and in some fields exclusively for its growth. 



The type which we prefer for our locality, and which we 

 have largely acquired, is as follows : 



Waushakum Corn. An 8-rowed, yellow corn, about 45 

 kernels to the row, and 9 inches long; cob, small; ear as 

 large in diameter at the top as at the butt, forming a true 

 cylinder. Kernels projecting over stalk at butt and round- 

 ing over the tip, even in size and compactlj'" arranged ; butt 

 compact ; very flinty. A bushel basket even full of ears as 

 thrown in loosely, will shell half a bushel and a pint of grain. 

 Weight of grain, 64 lbs. to the struck bushel. About 80 lbs. 

 of air dry fodder to the bushel of grain, under our system of 



