CORN 73 



it matures, it is so full of water that it can not dry out 

 before freezing weather. The result is that the frost kills 

 or weakens the germs of the unripe corn, making it unfit 

 for seed. Another effect of the imperfect ripening is seen 

 in the many cribs of moldy corn. Whenever there is a large 

 proportion of soft corn, there is great danger that there 

 will be heating and subsequent molding in the crib. 



Where to get seed. The fact needs frequent emphasis 

 that it is not wise to bring seed corn from a distance. The 

 corn plant has a tendency to adapt itself to the length of the 

 season; but this adaptation does not come about in a single 

 season. The best practice is to plant home-grown seed from 

 soil similar to the soil in which it is to be planted. If good 

 seed can not be had from near home,, the grower will do 

 well to send for seed grown where the season is shorter 

 rather than longer than his own. 



XII. SELECTING SEED CORN IN THE FIELD 



Value of good seed. The importance of selecting good 

 seed corn and taking good care of it cannot be over-estimated. 

 Experiments have shown that well-bred and carefully se- 

 lected seed corn, of a type suited to the soil and climate where 

 it is to be used, will produce from 10 to 50 per cent more 

 corn per acre. Rich soil and good culture are important fac- 

 tors in producing a large crop of corn, but good seed will 

 add considerably to the yield. 



Field selection. To get the best seed corn it should be 

 selected in the field after it has matured, and while the char- 



