118 ELEMENTARY AGRICULTURE 



because like produces like. Careful selection of seed 

 is the most profitable farm work. 



Curing the Seed. Every ear intended for planting- 

 must be gathered before the autumn freezes, since 

 freezing corn that is not well dried injures the seed 

 germ. Seed corn should be hung up where the air 

 can circulate about it freely. A good place to hang 

 seed corn is in the attic over the kitchen, with the 

 windows open. 



The Corn Tree. The "corn tree" is a device for 

 drying corn. It consists of an upright post driven 

 full of small-headed nails. An ear of corn is easily 

 stuck on each nail by jamming it into the pith at 

 the butt end. A wall driven full of nails will serve 

 the same purpose of holding the ears apart so they 

 will dry quickly. 



Testing Seeds. Every ear intended for seed 

 should be tested to see if the corn will sprout or 

 germinate. Take six seeds from each ear and plant 

 them for a test, keeping the ear marked by number. 

 This will insure a good stand and prevent replant- 

 ing, which causes a spotted field and a poor and 

 uneven crop (Fig. 63). 



Improving Corn. A good way to improve the 

 variety is to plant the seed from the hundred best 

 ears on one side of the field and to choose the seed 

 for the next year from this planting. In this way a 

 farmer will improve his crop every year. 



Planting Evenly. To-day most farmers plant with 

 machines, and the planter will not drop the corn 



