1114 



THE IKRIGATION AGE. 



A PAYING INVESTMENT. 



The business of farming is one of the oldest and 

 most stable occupations of man. It is one in which fore- 

 sigh't may be exercised more than in almost any other. 



FIG. 1. 



A few hours spent now, before frost, in carefully select- 

 ing corn from the field may save days, weeks, and even 

 months of labor next season. 



The time will soon be at hand when every corn 

 grower, regardless of his location, should take advantage 

 of the opportunity of preparing for next year, by going 

 into the field and selecting double the number of ears of 

 good corn required for next year's planting, figuring 12 

 ears to the acre. This will take but little time, and 

 experience has proved that it will be time well spent. 

 Very few seasons have passed without there being more 

 or less of a seed-corn famine. 



Do not put it off; the rush and hurry of corn-husking 

 time will not permit you to select the seed with care. 

 It is bad practice, to say the least, and far from being 

 in harmony with methods of good farming to save the 

 seed corn, as we once did when we were boys, that is, 

 while picking and when we thought about it, to throw 

 a few big ears in the front of the wagon, which we hastily 

 picked over when unloading the load. This was the corn 

 that was used in producing the next year's crop, and 

 usually the yield gave ample evidence of the neglect. It 

 is to be hoped that this practice will soon form a part of 

 our memories of the past. 



FIG. 2. 



The preparation at this time for next year's corn crop 

 is a matter of business the exercising of a little foresight, 

 which experience has taught us is both safe and sound. 



FIG. 3. 



The seed corn should be picked before frost, and 

 hung in a suitable place for drying. The advantages of 

 this method are: First, we do not run the risk of having 

 our seed corn frozen; second, we are able to pick ears 

 from good stalks. The stalk should be of medium size, 

 strong at the base, and tapering well toward the tassel. 

 It has been said that "we are wise to know how strong 

 the stalk must grow, to rear so fair a flower." The same 

 is true and fully as important in raising corn. 



The ears should be of medium size, rows straight, 

 the butt well filled out, and the tip covered with corn. 

 After the corn is picked, it should be hung up either in 

 the open air, in the hay mow, driveway of some building, 

 or some place where the ventilation is good, and where 

 the corn is not subjected to the danger of freezing. The 

 first month after picking is the most important in the 

 care of the seed. 



A good method to use in caring for seed corn is to 

 hang it up by the use of strings. Take a piece of binding 

 twine about 12 feet long, tie the ends together and place 

 the first ear as shown in figure No. 1. Cross the strings 

 and place in the second ear as in figure No. 2. Figure 

 No. 3 shows method of hanging up the strings of corn. 

 Note that this gives free circulation of air and that the 

 ears do not touch each other. This method is inexpensive, 

 but highly satisfactory. 



