CORN CULTURE 9 



count. The entire corn plant, stalk, leaves, roots and husk, 

 as well as environment, should be considered. It is plain 

 that ears grown on stalks that stand but one in a hill, or 

 next to missing hills, have a better chance than those that 

 grow in full hills. A large ear grown under such favor- 

 able conditions might not produce so well as somewhat 

 smaller ears grown under less favorable conditions. We 

 want to be sure that the ear is good size because of some- 

 thing in the nature of the ear itself, rather than from what 

 has happened to it while growing. Mature good ears from 

 stalks with several ears and hills having two or three stalks 

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

 stalk should be good color, short jointed, sturdy, not too 

 tall, and have plenty of broad full leaves. 



Caring for 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 

 keep it free from insects and 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 corn should 

 therefore never be stacked in piles or thrown into a crib 

 after it is gathered, but should be hung up in some open 

 place sheltered from, the direct sun, and from all rain or 

 other forms of moisture. 



4. Testing the Seed Corn 



No seed corn should ever be planted that has not been 

 tested ear by ear to see whether it will germinate and 

 produce a strong growth. For, even if the seed is care- 

 fully selected and cared for, there are always some ears 

 that will fail to grow, or else produce plants so weak as 

 to be barren or raise but worthless nubbins. 



Since it takes but a dozen or fifteen ears to plant an 



