INDIANA COKN OROWERs' ASSOCIATION. 465 



It may do to pick seed corn from the crib in new countries where there 

 is virgin soil to worli with, but not in our State, Avhere the land must be 

 fed and cared for as we do our stock, if we would realize good financial 

 results. It behooves us to make, aot two stalks grow where one grew 

 formerly, but the one stalk produce doubly the weight of corn that it 

 did. And how can we do this? Why, by giving the most careful atten- 

 tion to the selection and storage of the seed. You may have your ground 

 in the best of tilth at planting time; you may have harrows and discs 

 and plows galore, but the foundation of your crop is the seed, and the 

 better it can be kept the surer you are of a reward for your labor. The 

 secret of every farm crop lies in. the seed. Of course there are climatic 

 conditions over which we have no control, which may make or mar our 

 success, but I believe so far as human efforts are concerned that if we 

 do oiu- best and have the foundations good, profitable results will come. 



We Avant to get all we can from Old Mother Earth, and the ])est is 

 none too good for us. We don't need to plow deeper nor plant earlier, 

 we first want to take the proper care of our seed, after making a good 

 selection, and we 'will be rewarded with crops which will grow better 

 year after year. 



STORING SEED CORN. 



W. A. AI.EXANDER, RUSHVILLE, IND. 



This is my plan for storing seed corn, which is in snlistanee about the 

 same which I gave in my talk at the Association. 



Gather the corn in early autumn, and I would advise, if your time 

 is not limited, to take a basket, go into the field, and select the choicest 

 ears. If this is not convenient, sort carefully while unloading corn in 

 the crib, selecting the hest ears. Then rick them up where they will dry 

 immediately, and where the air can circulate freely between the rows. 



The place that I use is over the driveway of my double-slat crib, which 

 is twelve by fourteen. These cribs are 5 by 14 by 30 feet, set on stone 

 posts about three feet above ground, being narrow and tall and above 

 ground, so the air can circulate through it. 



This crib is covered with a sheet-iron roof, and in the early fall days 

 is' as hot as an oven. As the sun shines upon it, througli this, you might 

 say the corn is kiln-dried, the only redeeming feature I find in the sheet- 

 iron roof. 



The secret of corn raising is in getting good seed, that will shell not 

 less than eighty-five per cent., let it be yellow, Avhite or mixed, then to 

 have it thoroughly dried before the early freezing. When once dried you 

 need not fear the sudden changes of temperature, if kept where snow 

 and rain can not fall u;)i)n i^ 



30— Boar< 



