CORN OR MAIZE 87 



to carry their load and remain in an upright position 

 until harvest time. One of the greatest advantages to be 

 gained by fall selection of seed is the opportunity afforded 

 it to thoroughly dry out before freezing weather comes. 

 Seed corn if not well dried out before a hard freeze may 

 have the vitality greatly impaired, and in some cases the 

 germ may be killed. Seed corn should be stored in a well- 

 ventilated room. The ears should be piled or hung up 

 in such a manner as to permit a free circulation of air 

 among them. During damp weather a little artificial heat 

 will assist in drying them out. 



67. Some results of field selection. — At the Ne- 

 braska Station, seed selected from a plot growing five plants 

 per hill was compared with seed grown at the rate of three 

 plants per hill and one plant per hill. The seed selected 

 from these plots was planted the next season at the uni- 

 form rate of three plants per hill. Three years' average 

 gave the results shown in the table below : 



Seed from Yield Next Yeab when Planted at 



Rate of 3 Stalks per Hill 



1 Stalk per hill 61.8 bushels 



3 stalks per hill 62.2 bushels 



5 stalks per hill 64.4 bushels 



At the Ohio Station, seed selected in the field from plants 

 growing under normal conditions of stand and fertility 

 was compared with the seed selected from the wagon at 

 harvest time. In selecting from the wagon the appearance 

 of the ear was the only guide, since the conditions under 

 which it had grown could not be determined. When 

 planted the next year at a uniform rate of three kernels 

 per hill the field selected seed produced .3.72 bushels of 

 corn more per acre than that produced by the wagon 

 selected seed. There are those who object to field selec- 



