farmers' institutes. 643 



the corn, for the more thoroughly the soil Is prepared before planting the 

 more satisfactorily will be the crop returns. We would plow at a depth 

 of at least seven inches, if dry windy weather we would follow with a 

 roller or drag, in order to pack the soil and retain the moisture. Then 

 before planting give at least two good harrowings. On heavy sod land 

 a disc can be used to good advantage in pulverizing and cutting the over- 

 turned turf. 



Another important thing in the production of a big crop of corn is the 

 selection of the seed, and especially will this be so the coming spring, for 

 upon the quality of the seed planted in a considerable measure depends 

 the character of the crop. Seed to be good should be specially selected 

 and preserved under conditions favorable to prompt, strong germination. 

 In selecting seed corn from the field, which is the proper place to select it, 

 always select ears growing on good sized, healthy, short jointed, thickish 

 stalks, with the ears borne low down on short shanks. My ideal of an 

 ear is one about 10 or 12 inches long to 2^2 to 3 inches in diameter, nearly 

 uniform in thickness throughout, with 16 to 20 rows well filled tfut at 

 each end, and with but little space between the rows, the kernels rather 

 thick and solid with a medium sized cob. A very large cob does not 

 accompany great productions. As to varieties Boone County White and 

 Dungan's White Prolific for white, and Leaming for yellow are good 

 varieties for this locality. For the last few years we have grown Dungan's 

 White Prolific almost entirely. As to which will give the greater yield, 

 white or yellow, we have always thought that a white variety would give 

 the greatest yield. But the results at the experiment stations show the 

 yield to be practically the same. As the result of five years expei'iments 

 at the Illinois station with eleven varieties, Champion White Pearl gave 

 the highest average, 72.2 and Leaming 74.8 bushels per acre, a difference 

 of 1.4 bushels per acre in favor of the white variety. In shelling the seed 

 it has been my custom to reject the small grains at the tip and the irregu- 

 lar grains at the butt of the ear. If for no other reason than that even sized 

 grains work better in our improved machinery. But we notice in different 

 trials at the stations where seed from the butt, center and tip of ears 

 have been planted in different plots the results have been slightly in favor 

 of the grains from the tip of the eai*. But the evidence on this point we 

 don't think is sufficient. Based on the general law that like produces like, 

 large seeds should produce stronger plants with a greater capacity for 

 reproduction than small seed of the «ame kind. 



The seed having been selected and the ground thoroughly prepared, 

 we would plant as soon as the ground got warm enough. Corn not only 

 requires a warm air temperature to grow well in, but the soil must be 

 reasonably warm before planting, for we can not expect a proper germina- 

 tion of the seed in cold soil. The soil being warm and in condition, we 

 would plant the last of April or first of May. There is no right date to 

 plant corn, but there is a right time; we would rather be a little early 



