FIFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART I. 57 



but know nothing of the character of the male stalks from which the pollen 

 came that fertilized the kernels. On the other hand, if our seed is all 

 selected from the seed patch planted only from the very best ears, we are 

 much more certain of good parents on both < sides. It is a good practice 

 and one followed bv many corn growers to go through this seed patch o^ 

 two or three acres planted from this thirty or forty best ears of corn, after 

 it has been ' 'laid by" and before the tassels appear, and cut out all of 

 the weak and sickly stalks and those that are too tall and late or too short 

 and earlv and in this way prevent them from producing pollen to fertilize 

 the kernels of other ears. 



One of the most serious results from depending on the occasional good 

 ear found throughout the entire husking season is that many of the 

 fields are late and the corn immature and the husks will prevent the corn 

 from drying out properly and, as a consequence, it is frozen before it is 

 husked or, at least, before it has had time to dry out after husking. Again, 

 we often begin harvesting our poorest fields first and delay saving seed until 

 we come to our "best fields." 



If any advice was to be given, it would be to select all the seed from this 

 "early seed patch" not later than October 15th to 20th, taking the most 

 mature ears. They should then be tied eight or ten ears in a string with 

 binding twine, or they may be tied together in pairs and hung on some 

 wires or some strips in an open shed where the sun can not shine on them, 

 but where the wind can have the best possible opportunity to blow through 

 the corn and dry it thoroughly. As soon as dry and before any hard freezes 

 (say November 1st to 5th), take down and store in some place where there is 

 good circulation of air, as in the attic or furnace room, where it will be pro- 

 tected from the severe freezes during November and December. 



It it is certain that the corn has thoroughly dried out, it may remain 

 where it was hung in the open shed all winter, providing the sparrows and 

 mice do not trouble it, and there will be no danger of injury from freezing. 

 But in slow, cold seasons, like the past two, where the corn was not hung 

 up before October 20th, the only safe thing to do is to take the corn down 

 and place it where it is protected as stated above. In case the harvesting of 

 seed corn is neglected until November (which should not be done but is too 

 often the case) it should be taken direct to some room where it can be pro- 

 tected from freezing by artificial heat and where there is a good circulation 

 of air. 



There are several cautions which should be observed in the storing of seed 

 corn. Do not put immature or freshly gathered seed corn in a warm room 

 on the floor or in piles. It will either sprout or mould, or both. The corn 

 should be hung up and the windows left open for the circulation of air. 



Seed corn should not be left in barrels and boxes nor on the floor or porch 

 in piles. It should be properly taken care of as soon as harvested. 



Do not store seed corn over the laundry room nor over the stable, as it 

 will gather moisture and be injured by freezing. 



The most critical time for seed corn is during the first month after it is 

 harvested, while it is green and sappy. There is danger that it will mould 

 or grow if the room is warm and the circulation of the air is not good or if 

 the corn is put in piles. On the other hand, there is danger of its freezing, 

 unless protected. Corn dries out much more slowly than is generally sup- 



