The Huttig News

Field Selection of Seed Corn.

Every farmer ought to select his seed corn in the field this fall.

It is safe to say that 12,000,000 bushels could be added annually to the corn crop of Arkansas by the field selection of seed corn and the testing of the seed before planting.

That would be an increase of only 3 bushels to the acre, for the state's corn crop in 1911 represented 2,300,000 acres of land.

When it is remembered that from one-fourth to one-third of the seed planted does not come up and that a large production of that which does come up is so low in productive power that it produces mere nubbins or nothing at all—both of which difficulties can be largely overcome by the methods suggested it will be seen that the estimated 3 bushels to the acre as a result of seed selection and testing is very conservative.

Seed selection should begin with the cutting down or destroying of defective stalks before the pollen begins to fall from the tassels.

It is now too late for that but there is still much that can be done.

Any ordinary farmer can go into his fields and in a few hours select enough good seed corn to plant his entire crop.

Here is the way to do it: Choose a portion of the corn field that has made good corn without any special attention in the way of fertilizing and from this select a sufficient number of the best developed and best fruited stalks to furnish an ample supply of seed to plant the crop with some to spare.

The stalks should be only of medium height, oval shaped near the base and tapering rather sharply toward the top.

They should have an abundance of broad, strong leaves and should have the ear or ears near the middle of the stalk.

If of a prolific variety, the stalk should have two good ears, but if it belongs to a large one-eared strain one large well developed ear will be sufficient.

See that there are no barren or defective stalks in the immediate vicinity from which the seed ears could have been fertilized.

Attach a colored string to the seed stalks or otherwise mark them.

At gathering time send a hand ahead with a bag to gather the seed ears or attach a box to the wagon bed in which to put them.

Put the seed corn away in a separate box or compartment of the barn where it will keep dry till planting time.

If it is found that weevils are attacking it fumigate with a quantity of carbon bisulphide.

L. A. Markham, Com. of Mo. Pac.-I. M. Rv.