Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 60, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 October 1916 — TIMELY ADVICE FOR FARMERS [ARTICLE]

TIMELY ADVICE FOR FARMERS

How to Select Seed Com Intelligently, by an Expert. The only proper way to select seed corn is from the stalks w.hile standing where they grew, assoon ag ripe and before the first hard freeze. As soon as the crop ripens go through the field with seedpicking bags and husk the ears from the stalks that have produced the most corn without having any special advantages such as space, moisture, or fertility. Avoid the large ears on stalks standing singly with an unusual amount of space around them. Preference should be given the plants that have produced most heavily In competition with a full stand of less productive

plants. In all localities the inherent tendency of the plant to produce heavily of sound, dry, shelled corn is of most importance. Latematuring plants with ears which are heavy because of an excessive amount of sap should be ignored. Sappiness greatly increases the weight and is likely to destroy the quality. In the Central and Southern states, all other things being equal, short, thick stalks are preferable. Short stalks are not so easily blown down and permit thicker planting. Thick stalks are not so easily broken down, and in general are more productive than slender ones. The tendency for corn to produce suckers is hereditary. Other things being equal, seed should be taken from stalks that have no suckers. ‘