Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 56, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 October 1917 — PICK YOUR SEED CORN NOW [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PICK YOUR SEED CORN NOW

By County Agent Stewart Learning

Have you picked your seed corn yet? If not you .probably do not know how hard it is going to be to find enough good, sound corn in much of the county to supply, next year's seed demands."' The condition will grow worse instead of better and early selection this fall is an essential to a good crop next year. Busy? Of course you are. Some farmers will be busy next summer tilling fields with 50 per cent, of

a stand when they might have at least- 90. Good seed is of such vital importance that the corn grower can afford to suspend all other farm operations until an ample supply has been gathered. Now is the time to take a sack and. go through the fields to pick out the desirable seed ears. Select only sound, ripe ears from mature stalks, if possible. Early maturity is one of the first essentials of a

variety suited to our Jasper county conditions. . • Ears,, -which are well developed in completion with others in the, same hill are to be, preferred .to those developed under more favorable conditions. Proper ’drying is just as important as early picking. » Hang ail seed corn ears on a drying rack so that no two ears touch in a well ventilated place until thoroughly dry. Do not pile damp seed behind

the kitchen stove and do not apply heat in any other ■ form unless proper ventilation is provided to prevent molding. Time spent in picking and drying seed corn now is probably wort h more than any other time spent in producing the' .corn crop. By attending to the matter now you will be increasing your own income and adding to the resources of your county.