18 AGRICULTURE 



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How to gather seed corn. Securing good seed re- 

 quires that seed corn shall be gathered from the field be- 

 fore the general crop is harvested. The proper way to se- 

 lect seed corn is to pass through the best parts of the field, 

 row by row, with a sack slung over the shoulder, examin- 

 ing each promising-looking ear from a good stalk and full 

 hill, and taking the ear if it proves acceptable. This looks 

 like a good deal of work, but when it is remembered that 

 twelve to fifteen ears will plant an acre, and that the dif- 

 ference between a yield of thirty bushels or of sixty bush- 

 els to the acre may result from having good seed, it is well 

 worth the time. From three to five bushels a day may be 

 selected in this way enough to plant from twenty-five 

 to forty acres of next season's crop. 



The right kind of seed hill. In selecting ears for 

 seed it is important to take into account all the surround- 

 ings of the plant. It is plain that ears grown on stalks 

 which stand but one in a hill, or next to missing hills, have 

 a better chance to grow large than those from full hills. 

 A large ear grown under such favorable conditions might 

 not produce so well as somewhat smaller ears grown un- 

 der less favorable conditions. We want to be sure that the 

 ear is good size because of something in the nature of the 

 ear itself, rather than from what has happened to it while 

 growing. Mature good ears from hills having three stalks 

 are desirable, for this condition promises a good yield. The 

 stalk should be sturdy, not too tall, and have plenty of 

 broad full leaves. 



Curing the seed. Caring for the seed after it is picked 

 is as important as its selection. The great thing in caring 

 for seed corn just picked from the field is to give it a 

 chance to dry thoroughly. To do this, it must be where it 

 can get plenty of circulating air. The ears should not 

 touch one another, for then they will not dry evenly. Seed 



