Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 January 1875 — Seed-Corn. [ARTICLE]

Seed-Corn.

Most farmers saved at the suitable time their seed-corn. But is it safe this wintef? Farmers should look to this question and should also know why and what care it needs. The analysis of corp shows that it contains, when dry enough to grind, about 15 per cent, of > water. This is its salient point. So i large a per cent, of water renders it lia- , ble to the destruction of its vitality by ! freezing or to fermentation by heat ? generated spontaneously. The hard, ! glossy covering of a grain of corn conj stitutes a good protection to the grain I while it is on the cob, so it is saffe to con- ! elude this is the best way to keep corn. The damp breath and noxious gases arising from cow or horse stables is exceedingly injurious to the vitality of corn, and it should never be put over stables occupied by any kind of animals. The great secret in the preservation of Seed-corn is in having it dry on the approach of cold weather and keep it dry, j with a plenty of free air. In a granary ; where the wheat, rye or oats go through ; a sweat or any dampness arising from ■ the bins is almost fatal to seed-corn. A ‘ corn crib, where it can have plenty of I room, free circulation of air,. • and > protected from any damp, is a good i place for it. In the garret of jfa i dwelling-house with a tight roof protecti ing from rain or drifting snows, with a dry and warm current of air passing up ! through the building, is the best place Lthe common farmer can use. But see j that snow does not sift through on it, thaw and then freeze. Serious failures in crops sometimes occur from bad seed planted too late for a second planting. Distress and ruin will come upon a man for slight neglects in the care of seed. Some may .have not furnished them-' selves seed. Now is the time to provide against such neglect. There is time now

aud it may be more easily obtained than in the hurry of planting crops. Look also at the kind of seed. In nearly all communities there are varieties of corn that differ in yield from ten to fifteen bushels per acre, and yet equally as early. The corn that has been grown on the same place until it produces nothing but nubbins had better be fed to hogs and a better article purchased, even if it has to be sought at some distance. — lowa State Regitter. • ±