146 



THE ESSENTIALS OF AGRICULTURE 



180. Uniformity of type. All of the ears selected should 

 conform as nearly as possible to a fixed type. This will tend 

 toward greater uniformity of drop in planting and also in the 

 character of the resulting crop. When one is growing some 

 special variety, the ears should conform quite closely to the 



standard characteristics 

 of the variety. These 

 detailed ear character- 

 istics should be em- 

 phasized most carefully 

 when making the final 

 selection of seed ears. 

 181. Storing seed 

 corn. When seed corn 

 is gathered in the fall, 

 it often contains as 

 much as 40 or 50 per 

 cent of moisture, while 

 air-dried corn contains 

 only from 10 to 14 per 

 cent. If corn is frozen 

 when it contains a large 

 amount of water, the ex- 

 panding water in the 

 germ cells ruptures the 

 cell walls, and the vital- 

 ity of the seeds will be 

 very seriously injured 



FIG. 67. The binder-twine seed hanger 



and may be destroyed. Any dry, well-ventilated room or build- 

 ing which is mouse and rat proof is satisfactory for storage. 

 Cellars or basements without furnace heat, open spaces over 

 grain bins and near live stock, barbed-wire fences, windmills, 

 and the sides of buildings, though sometimes used, are not 

 desirable. 



It is important that the ears be placed so that no two touch 

 until they are thoroughly dried. A few practical methods are 



