106 



Effective Farming 



of the ear, except at the butts and tips, should be of nearly 

 uniform shape and size ; they will then drop regularly through 

 the plates of the planter. The ear should be well matured ; 

 immature corn will not keep well in storage and if planted will 

 produce weak stalks and give poor yields. 



Caring for the seed ears. As soon as gathered, the seed ears 

 should be stored in a well-ventilated place and arranged so that 



FIG. 34. Seed corn strung with binder twine. 



they will not touch each other. Stringing them with binder 

 twine (Fig. 34), or placing them on wire racks (Fig. 35), are 

 very satisfactory ways of arranging them for drying. The 

 wire racks are made by cutting electrically-welded lawn fenc- 

 ing into strips and bending the wires on which the ears are to 

 be placed. When the corn is as dry as old corn, it should be 

 taken from the twine or racks and stored in a cool dry place 



