PRODUCTION OF CORN 85 



mark a number of them. At husking time the ears from the 

 marked plants should be kept separate. In case the corn is 

 not to be husked soon after maturity, the best ears of the 

 marked plants should be gathered at this time. 



As soon as the corn is brought from the field it should be 

 stored in a dry place. In order to secure a free circulation 

 of air around each ear, the ears should be arranged in such 

 a way as not to touch each other. After the corn is thoroughly 

 dry, it may be stored in metal containers where it will be 

 protected from moisture and from rats and mice. 



If the plan of selecting seed corn in the field is followed 

 year after year, it generally results in establishing a high- 

 yielding strain. This plan is known as mass selection. A 

 plan giving quicker results will be considered in the chapter 

 on Plant Improvement. 



In this connection attention should be called to the de- 

 sirability of studying the points of corn so as to be able to 

 make a good seed selection. Practice in corn judging is 

 important since it develops an appreciation of a good ear 

 of corn. Score cards for judging corn may be obtained from 

 the State Agricultural College. 



Harvesting. The methods of harvesting corn are so 

 familiar that only a brief reference, by way of summary, 

 need be made. There are four general methods. 



First, cutting and shocking: The best time for this op- 

 eration is when the grain has hardened, but before frost. 

 At this time the crop has its greatest feeding value, taking 

 into consideration both fodder and grain. The usual method 

 is to allow one shock for each square of sixteen feet. Where 

 shocks are exposed to the weather there is a considerable 

 loss in the feeding value of the fodder. The corn may be 

 hauled to barns and shredded. In this way the loss oc- 



