38o 



Reading-Course for Farmers. 



selection. In this way the farmer has probably accomplished more with 

 corn than with any other crop. It is in the region in which corn is grown 

 for grain that the improvement has, in large part, been accomplished, bnt 

 there is no reason why dent corn for ensilage in New York State cannot 

 be improved in the same way. This paper will deal only with dent corn. 

 In the region of country using silage most abundantly the corn that 

 matures grain successfully in a normal growing season, and that does not 

 have an excessive proportion of stalks has been shown beyond question 

 to be the best corn for silage. It is likewise true that corn raised year 

 after year in one locality yields more grain, if care be taken to select 

 good seed, than does corn that is brought from other locality. This being 

 the case there is every reason why seed should be selected for raising 

 ensilage corn, and why it should be produced in the region of which the 



ensilage is to be grown rather than 

 to be brought from some other part 

 of the country. 



The large southern varieties of 

 corn that were frequently grown 

 for ensilage when the silo first came 

 into use often contained no less 

 than ten per cent, of dry matter, 

 the remainder being water. In 

 words, they contained when cut for 

 silage as little dry matter as does 

 skim milk produced by the separa- 

 tor process. 



There should be a medium sized 

 stalk and a good ear on ensilage 

 corn, and for that reason seed 

 should be selected with both of 

 these points in mind. Pick the 

 seed in the fall before frccz'ng 

 weather sets in. Hang it in a drv, 

 well ventilated room where it can 

 be thorough 1\- dried before freez- 

 ing, or where it can be kept warm 

 enough not to freeze. Freezing 

 docs not injure the germination of 

 corn unless the grain is moi-st. If 

 the grain is perfectly dry. corn may 



Fi(i. ;o8. — A. Ear with shallou) kernels. h.' subjected to verv low tcni])cra- 

 B, Ear with deep kernels. Erom . , . . 



''Examining and Gradin(^ Grains." ^ures without injury. 



