406 



MAIZE 



MAIZE 



than other grains, corn does not figure so promi- 

 nently in our export trade. Nearly all of it is fed 

 to stock on the farms where it is produced. Only 

 4 per cent of the amount grown in the United 

 States is shipped to other countries as corn and 

 corn meal. It is used for the most part on the 



Fig. 615. Examining the germination box to see how the com 

 is sprouting. It is not enough that the Isemels simply 

 sprout: they should show strong germinatiou. (Holden.) 



farms for fattening cattle and hogs for exportation 

 and home use. It is well for the future of American 

 farming that this custom prevails so generally. A 

 removal of the corn from the farms would much 

 more quickly deplete their fertility. The feeding 

 .of it on the farms is the chief means of retaining 

 their fertility. 



Consideration of the seed. 



In order to produce a successful corn crop it is 

 necessary that attention be given to the selection 

 of seed the fall previous to the year in which the 

 good crop is expected. The opinion is rather prev- 

 alent that if a good stand is obtained, it matters 

 little by what method the required number of stalks 

 is secured. The stand is sometimes obtained by 

 planting a larger number of kernels per hill than 

 the number of stalks desired. This method is not 

 advisable for two principal reasons : First, such a 

 method is sure to result in an uneven distribution 

 of the plants in the field ; and second, if the seed 

 germinates poorly, so that it is necessary to plant 

 more than the number expected to grow, it is cer- 

 tain that the seed that does grow will have been 

 reduced in vitality by the same conditions that 

 caused the other grains to fail. 



One endeavoring to produce successful crops of 

 corn must bear in mind that within each kernel is 

 a partially developed corn plant differentiated into 

 the part that grows into the stalk and that which 

 develops into the roots. This partially developed 

 plant necessarily endures the condition to which 

 the seed ears are subjected during the winter. 

 The best condition under which it maintains its 

 vitality is that of dryness and an even temperature. 

 It is not sufficient to make sure that the corn is 

 once dried in the fall and then placed in a position 



where it will be subjected to damp atmosphere and 

 extremes of temperature. If but a few bushels of 

 seed are required, a very convenient method of dry- 

 ing it thoroughly is by means of twine and a well- 

 ventilated loft or shed in which to hang the strings 

 of ears. About a dozen or twenty ears can be tied 

 on one string, placing the ears several inches apart 

 on the string so they will not touch. (Fig. 614.) If 

 such strings can be hung in a place that will re- 

 main dry and at a comparatively uniform temper- 

 ature, they may be left in this position until plant- 

 ing time approaches. However, rather than subject 

 such strings to the atmosphere of damp days and 

 changes in temperature, it is better to take them 

 down after the ears are thoroughly dry and place 

 them in an attic or living-room of a dwelling or 

 some building in which the temperature will remain 

 rather constant and the atmosphere dry. 



If it is necessary to dry large quantities of seed 

 ears, gently sloping floors or shelves made of one- 

 and-one-half- or two-inch slats, with an inch and 

 a half between the slats, can be constructed in a 

 dry room heated by stoves so arranged that the 

 warm air will ascend between the slats and escape 

 by means of ventilators provided near the roof. 

 The object of the sloping floors is to provide an 

 easy means of moving all of the ears by withdraw- 

 ing a part of them from the lower ends of the 

 floors, causing the others to roll down a little dis- 

 tance. Such movement enables the ears to dry on 

 all sides. On these floors the seed ears are put only 

 one or two ears deep. ' 



Seed corn should never be placed in tight boxes 

 or barrels until thoroughly dry or until the mois- 

 ture content is reduced to 10 per cent or less. 

 When dried to this extent, seed can be tightly 

 boxed with safety, provided the boxes are kept in 

 a dry place. In order to guard against the weevil 

 and the grain moth, it is well to place about a 

 pound of naphtha or moth balls with every bushel 

 of ears. Well-dried seed has been preserved in this 

 way for four years without impairing its germi- 

 nation to any extent, while equally well-dried seed 



Fig. 616. Six kernels taken from each of three ears of com and 

 tested in the germination box. No. 1, three swelled but 

 sent out neither root nor stem sprouts; other three sent 

 out weak stem sprouts but practically no root sprouts. 

 No. 2, all six kernels gave strong, even germination; this 

 is a good seed ear. No. 3, all weak germinators; such enrs 

 should never be planted. (Holden.) 



