STORING SEED CORN 



121 



kerneled varieties are almost always later in maturing than 

 the types with more shallow kernels must not be over- 

 looked in making selections. Care and judgment must 

 always be used to select kernels as deep as is practical, and 

 still get corn that will mature safely 

 in the locality. 



STORING SEED CORN 



153. Conditions for Storing. In 



storing seed corn, one must recognize 

 the fact that in each kernel of corn 

 there is a small, living plant, which 

 under certain conditions may be in- 

 jured. If corn is placed in a damp, 

 warm atmosphere, the germ is likely 

 to be injured by molding. If the corn 

 is exposed to severe cold while it still 

 contains a large percentage of moist- 

 ure, the cells in the germ are very 

 likely to be broken by the expansion 

 of the moisture on freezing and the 

 germ thus destroyed. This makes it 

 apparent that the safe storage of seed 

 corn requires that it should be dried 

 out quickly, that it be kept in a place 

 where it will remain dry, and that it 

 be not allowed to freeze until it is 

 thoroughly dry. Though corn will 

 stand considerable freezing without injury when it is dry, 

 it is better to protect it from frost if possible, for it is 

 difficult to determine just when it is dry enough to be safe. 



154. Storage Houses. Where large quantities of seed 

 corn are handled, as is the case with seed firms, special seed- 



Fig. 40. The seed 

 corn tree. Nails are 

 driven in rows on the 

 sides of the post and the 

 seed ears are stuck on 

 them. 



