Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 263, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 November 1917 — KEEP SEED CORN SAFE DURING WINTER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

KEEP SEED CORN SAFE DURING WINTER

(From —tho United States Department of Agriculture.) Seed corn may be left on the racks where the- ears have been dried. But It is generally preferable, says the United States department of agriculture, to store the ears in mouse-proof barrels, boxes or crates during the winter. In any case they must not be exposed to dampness or they will absorb moisture and be Injured. After hanging in the drying shed, or lylng 'on the racks where there is constant circulation of dry air for the first two months after they have been selected from the stalks in the field, the seed ears should be bone dry and contain less than 10 per cent of moisture. Some farmers place the thoroughly dry ears in the center of’ a wheat bin and then fill the bin with loose, dry wheat. Destroy Weevils and Moths. If signs of weevils or grain moths show, the corn should be inclosed with

carbon hisulphid in a practically airtight room, bin, box or barrel for 48 hours. The liquid hisulphid should be placed in shallow dishes on top of the box or barrel holding ten bushels or less. The fumes from the hisulphid are heavier than air and gradually, fall to the bottom of the receptacle, permeating the whole mass. One pound of the carbon hisulphid is enough for a 'room or bin ten feet in each dimension. After fumigation the ears must be thoroughly aired, whereupon the unpleasant odor disappears. Great care should he used with carbon bisulphld; its fumes are quite as inflammable as those from gasoline. To prevent the £fitrance of weevils and moths, the ears may be stored in comparatively airtight boxes or barrels with one pound of .mothballs or naphthalene for each bushel of corn, which is not injured. Ten pounds will protect enough seed to plant 60 acres.

PREPARING BEST EARS FOR STORAGE.