COEN GKOWEES' ASSOCIATION. 24:7 



After examining tlie samples it was found tliat they had not ma- 

 tured sufficiently and the grains were in a shriveled state. It was the 

 opinion of the members that tliis was caused by the poor season, and 

 although the corn was of good size it lacked the other. points that are 

 essential to good seed corn. 



Mr. Walker, of Hancock County, and Mr. Apple, of Marion County, 

 took part in the discussion. 



Mr. llostetter, of Springfield, Illinois, secretary of the Farmers' In- 

 stitutes of that State, spoke on 



THE VITALITY OF SEED CORN AND HOW TO KEEP IT. 



The life of every grain of corn is in the germ, and that means a 

 great deal. 



Like all animals and other plants, the corn has two genders, the mas- 

 culine and feminine. Although every grain of corn on an ear Is of the 

 same mother, they are of different parentage on the father's side. In or- 

 der to have the highest vitality both of the parents must be of strong- 

 vitality. 



Now, a great many things must be taken into consideration concern- 

 ing the vitality of the corn. We can not expect to have the highest 

 vitality in a grain of corn if we continue to raise corn on the same land 

 year after j^ear until the soil is impoverished, and if we do, the vitality 

 will deviate, as the soil is too impoverished to nourish the stalks suffi- 

 ciently to give the ear the proper nourishment in order to secure this 

 high vitality. 



You will also have a poor quality of corn if you plant a poor grade 

 of seed. Plant the best that you have on the impoverished soil and you 

 will get better corn than if you plant a poor grade of seed on good soil. 

 This will prove to us that it is an essential point to consider the quality 

 of seed when making your selection for planting, even more than the soil. 



I am glad to see so many young men in this meeting. We are trying 

 to get the young men of Illinois interested in the work of corn growing. 



You know it is a very difficult thing to get the men who have become 

 fixed in their liabits to take up new ideas and methods, and in our State 

 we are looking to the young people to carry on the new line of work. 



We have an experimental station for the benefit of the farmers of 

 Illinois, and we find it to be a great help in getting the people intei-ested 

 along this line. 



It is just as essential to maintain the vitality of corn as in any other 

 plant life. The corn for seed should be raised under the best possible 

 conditions. 



