HARVESTING 99 



HARVESTING SEED CORN— The Time. It is generally agreed 

 that seed corn should be picked before danger of a killing frost. It is 

 doubtful if the selection should be delayed later than October 1st, 

 even in the central corn belt. *For a period of thirty years the average 

 date of the first killing frost in the fall in Iowa is October 8th. 



To set a definite day as "Harvest Day" for the entire corn belt 

 is, impossible. Its significance lies simply in the suggestion. But 

 the farmer who has learned through experience and observation 

 in his locality, can forecast frost fairly accurately. The only 

 thing then is to pick seed before the cold freezing weather comes on. 

 When going into the field early in the fall, before any hard frosts 

 have come, it will generally be found that the corn as a whole is im- 

 mature ; yet on examination an occasional ear here and there will be 

 seen with its husks turning brown. These, when pulled back, reveal 

 an ear in the dent stage, firm and ready to be picked for seed, while 

 right in the same hill another ear having had an equal opportunity is 

 still in a very immature state. This is the time to select the medium, 

 early, well-matured seed ears, instead of waiting until later (huskmg 

 time for example), when it is impossible to distinguish between th« 

 early and late maturing corn. This may be done the latter part of 

 September. Maturity should never be sacrificed for size of ear. There 

 are plenty of good sized ears that mature in the corn belt, but they can 

 only be properly found by selecting them early in the field. 



The risk of leaving seed corn in the field after danger of frost is 

 shown from the results of tests conducted at the Iowa State College. 

 Note the high per cent of moisttire in the corfi in October. If left in 

 the field this corn is bound to be damaged by frost. 



TABLE NO. 21 

 SHOWING AMOUNT OF MOISTURE IN CORN AT DIFFERENT DATES 



Time Gathered Per cent of Water 

 September 20 •_ 54 



September 27 51 



October 6 45 



October 13 43 



November 7 28 



The corn will shrivel to a greater extent when gathered early, if 

 picked too immature, and the kernels will have a tendency to be 

 starchy. This practice continued from year to year will tend to pro- 

 duce an early maturing corn. Good ears may be selected at husking 

 time later in the autumn, but they should be stored separately and 

 very thoroughly tested. Of course in the southern states the danger of 

 freezing is not of such importance, but the proper time to pick the 



*Qeo. M. Chappel, Iowa Crop Serrioe. 



