Vor.. LXXVI. 
No. 4440. 
NEW YORK, SlOl'TEMRER S. 1017. 
"ffjA 
Select Seed Corn in the 
Field 
Get Ready for Next Year’s Crop 
.\RENTS AND PRO(iENY.— 
Not many farmers will keep 
a hreeclins animal that is not a 
prolific producer of thrifty off¬ 
spring. Bnt more than likely 
many of these same men go to 
the crib and select their seed corn 
from the common lot. having no 
knowledge at all of its ancestry 
or its ability to produce. There 
cannot be much profit in seed 
which produces only harreu 
stalks, say nothing of the many 
small and poorly formed ears. 
Possibly the seed does not pos¬ 
sess even ordinary vitality, and 
only half or three-fourths of a 
stand is secured. At best not 
more than a proportionate yield 
can be expected even after the 
expense of replanting, because 
replants seldom make ears. Of 
course, the very good farmers 
use only the best selected and 
tested seed, and secure nearly 
perfect stands and maximum 
yields, but this is not the praC’ 
tice of the mas.s. 
FALL SELECTION.—'file only 
way’ to be sure of good s(>ed is to 
select it in the Fall, while the 
ear is yet on the stalk, and both 
may be viewed together. We like 
a stalk that is strong and thrifty, 
neither so low that wt‘ must 
stoop nor so tall that we need a 
step-ladder at husking time. ’i'aH 
corn does not stand in a storm, 
and when once down it is very 
diflicult to harvest even if it 
.should not be damaged before the 
.iob was done. Also, an exce.ss 
of the vegetative parts is likely 
to mean shortage in grain, and 
what we want is coi-n. not fod¬ 
der. 
THE TYPICAL EAPi. — We 
prefer al.so that the husk should 
not be coarse and heavy, as this 
indicates lack of cpiality in the 
grain. The shaidv should be 
strong and only long enough to 
allow the ear to point somewhat 
downward. Otherwise water may 
run under the husk and damage 
the grain, or the ear may hang 
so low that it Is out of reach. We 
cannot conveniently examine the 
ear very carefully in the field, 
but it should be cylindrical, well 
tipped, long but not slim, deep 
grained, with straight even rows, 
and i)erfectly sound and solid. 
We cannot find many perfect ears 
or stalks, but we must have an 
ideal in mind. We want the best, 
the corn which produces grain. 
Ilot cob and husk. The second Unripe Ears of Flint Corn Showing Double Earing Wanted. Fig. 473. (See Page 1056) 
selection which we must make in 
the Spring will give opportunity 
to pay more attention to the 
fancy points. In case we have a 
seed plot, which is the very best 
plan, we may find enough 
superior e;irs for it, if not for 
field planting. In the breeding 
plot one may detassel all bar¬ 
ren :ind otluM'wi.se undesirable 
shilks and tbus make sure that 
both parents of our select seed 
are as nearly ideal as possible. 
COLLECTING THE REED 
CORN.—In making our .selection 
we may carry a bag and bring 
the ears to the end of the row, 
when they are later hauled to 
the barn. Or we may simply mark 
the stalks with a string or by 
topping the plant, and at husk¬ 
ing time throw the ears in a 
separate box for seed. Seed ears 
.shonld remain on the stalk until 
Cfuite mature. After thi.s the 
sooner they are removed and 
Oil red for the better. A good plan 
is to strij) the husk back and 
suspend the e.ir in a convenient 
place for di-ying. A drying rack 
is not es.sential. Roles or wires 
or even nails in the wall will an¬ 
swer the ])urpos(*. When dry the 
ears should he stored where ven 
tilation is good iind where 
vermin cannot do injury. Damp 
corn not only molds, but is in¬ 
jured, or the germ nniy be com- 
liletely kilh*d by fi-eezing. Any 
ordiiiiiry cold weather Avill not 
injuri' diy seed. Seed corn should 
not be stored in bulk without 
much care, and es[)eciiilly not in 
old salt barri'ls which iire some¬ 
times so convenient. They draw 
dampness'!ilid we lost some very 
fine Lseed before experience 
taught us better. The common 
farmer who u.ses only a few 
bushels of seed may susiiend it 
with Avires or strings Avhere it is 
perfectly safe until Spring. 
Staking on a beam is a A'ery .sat¬ 
isfactory method of storing if 
mice do not trouble. 
YALT’E OF SELECTION. — 
Tliere may be farmers Avho think 
that it does not laiy to give so 
much attention to .seed selection. 
Of these Ave would a.sk if time 
is not Avorth more in the Spring 
Avhen a delay of a day in plant¬ 
ing may mean that a rain keeps 
us out of the field for a Aveek. 
With our seed already selected, 
tested and .shelled as it should 
be, Ave can rush the planter at 
the first moment Avhen conditions 
are right. Getting the crop plant¬ 
ed at the proper time often 
means the difference betAveen a 
good and a poor haiwest. If 
