10 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Tliis condition means a loss of 2,000,000 acres, and at thirtj^-three 

 (33) bushels an acre, we have 66,000,000 bushels of corn lost to the 

 farmers of Iowa, the greater part on account of poor seed corn last 

 spring. At thirty-two cents (32c) per bushel, which is about the pres- 

 ent average price, we have the enormous loss of $21,120,000 that with 

 more favorable conditions would have been added to the wealth of the 

 state. 



In the face of these facts, that cannot be successfully denied, no 

 excuse need be made for writing this paper, and again calling atten- 

 tion to the importance of securing seed corn at the right time and car- 

 ing for it in a proper manner, until the planting season the following 

 year. 



I am aware that there is a difference of opinion, even among the 

 limited number of farmers who make it a rule to gather their seed 

 corn as soon as it is fit for seed, as to the proper method of caring 

 for it, but an experience of forty-nine years with close observation 

 has convinced mo that while there are many different methods prac- 

 ticed, there is only one method that never fails, and which can be 

 depended upon to germinate 100 per cent, in the field, in the corn 

 planting season. 



A common method is to gather seed corn early in the season, and 

 hang it under a porch or in a driveway with a roof over it, or in a 

 shed, sometimes a wire is stretched between two trees and the ears 

 being tied in pairs by the husks, are hung over the wire. The objec- 

 tion to all these methods is the fact that the corn will absorb moisture 

 from the atmosphere during moist weather, Avhic.h retards the drying 

 process so essential at this period. Other methods will suggest them- 

 selves, such as burying the seed corn in the oats bin, hanging it in the 

 barn or granary, or some other outbuilding, placing it in the cellar 

 where it would bo safe from the frost, but I have known failure to 

 result from each and every one of these methods. 



The only method that I know, whereby seed corn can be saved and 

 depended upon to germinate 100 per cent in every season, and with 

 the most adverse conditions of cold and wet weather in the planting 

 season, is to secure it in the last half of September or the first half of 

 October, according to the advancement of the season, and the maturity 

 of the corn. The best ears should be selected and stripped of the 

 husk, leaving only sufficient husks to tie the ears in pairs, or the 

 husks can be entirely removed, and the ears laid on racks not more 

 than two or three ears in depth and in such manner that a free cir- 

 culation of air will be insured. Artificial heat is absolutely necessary 

 to thoroughly dry the corn, and it matters not where this drying pro- 

 cess is done, provided the corn is kept dry, and warm air freely circulat- 

 ing through it. 



I cannot refrain from entering a most vigorous protest against the 

 altogether too common practice of deferring the selection of seed corn 

 until husking time. While it is true that a good selection can be 

 made when every ear in the field is handled, still this method is 

 fraught with the greatest danger, for in many seasons we have severe 



