82 FIELD CROP PRODUCTION 



and the probable price in the spring or summer must be 

 considered. Of course it is to be remembered that grain 

 dealers do not pay corn prices for water. When corn with 

 a high per cent of moisture is sold in the fall, the usual 

 practice is not to buy it at a per bushel rate, but at a given 

 price per 70 pounds or 72 pounds, as the case may be, 

 depending upon the moisture content. Farmers who 

 purchase corn for feeding should consider the moisture 

 content just as do the grain dealers. Good ventilation in 

 storage is essential, especially if the corn is not well dried 

 out when husked. Storing corn in tight bins or cribs, 

 unless it is well dried out, will be likely to cause molding 

 and rotting. 



IMPROVEMENT OF CORN 



64. Method of improvement. Increasing the yield 

 of corn may be accomplished either by improving the 

 fertility and physical conditions of the soil, or by improving 

 the plant, or by both. Improving the soil has been 

 briefly discussed under cultural methods, and only im- 

 provement of the plant remains to be considered. The 

 first consideration in the improvement of corn is the 

 selection of the variety. Varieties of corn vary greatly 

 in their adaptability to soils and climate, and in yield. 

 There are a large number of varieties of dent and flint 

 corn, some of which differ greatly in the character of the 

 plant, and in the size, shape, and color of the ear and 

 kernel. Many others, however, are so similar in all re- 

 spects that it is impossible to distinguish between them. 

 This is due in great measure to the common practice of 

 giving to the corn the name of the man from whom the 

 seed was secured, and henceforth that particular strain 

 is known as " Jones' " Yellow Dent, " Wilson's " White, 

 or " Knox County " Corn, as the case may be. Some- 



