Show SAVING SEED CORN hy by 0 L smith agriculturist of tho th OREGON washington railroad and navigation co the corn plant has hai tho the character lath itji of adapting itself to soil and all juanic conditions to a u greater degree than ally otter othor cultivated plant thiro Is fit illse a wider variation in size and quality of grains under average conditions than Is to bo be found with other cereals coi oila for this reason idason seed selection becomes a very important factor in successful corn growing have leavo demonstrated that with fertile soil carefully caio tully ed cd planting ug and cultivation well done dona the in seed has made a lf dif in the yield varying from 12 to bushels per acro ever ahou good cars have been d and tested tho the variation ras raa been remark ablo in ono one experiment oara ears planted in 1100 rows ios side by fildo in tho the sanio same hold field some of tho the rows lows produced nt at tit tho rate ot of 90 bushels po lie acre while others produced loaa less than 40 bushels por per acre somo sent had ton times na as many barren stalks and n a dozen times as many suckers as tin tho others tho to select seed corn Is in ill mhd field the time to select it ly 19 be foro tho the harvesting ot of tho the crop ono one of tho the most successful growers gro wora who hasin has in ln 2 20 years increased ills his crop from 26 bushels per acre of rather poor corn to buchola bus liels per aero acre ot of nu no I 1 corn begins his seed selection by cutting out all weak or barren banon ban on stalks before blossoming bloss oming tho the lat jer ter part laft of august lie ho goes over tho the flold field marking with colored strings those stalks that aro are strong free front from stickers suc kora with two or moro more good barg on oil a stalk A special la Is put on oil those that indicate carloy maturity ill just s t before tho harvesting of I 1 main crop tho the marked oars cars tire gathered marked according to the strings all dried as aa quickly and as try dry as aa possible by hanging in fit a well ventilated oon that aswell Is heated every day the corn when dry Is in a dry well ventilated room in III march tho the heaviest most perfect chalma oara cars are selected for tho the seed good plat six kernels from each ear car are aio tested for foi germination or weal plants nio nie discarded in marking tho grales allis to bo be saved for seed the general n i franco of tho the stalk should bo be considered it should bo be of medium holgat to fo tho the variety thick at the butt and gradually tapering close jointed thick heavy dark daik green loaves leaves and heavy tassel the ears cars should have a short strong stem and bo be placed on the lower half of tho the stalk tho the sc BC od oara cars should bo be liti and dried as soon its as possible after gathering the cars oai should bo be hung separate ly not in bunched bunch pd the fire dried seed not only nates better but will produce bettor better and stronger plants test each ear car separately one poor ear car to the aero acre may make a dit ference ot of 10 per acre in fit the value of the tha crop missing hills barren stalks weak stalks with only nubbins bubbins discount tho the average corn crop more moio than GO 50 per cent delop deep plowing a liberal uso use of stable mar manure ture thorough thoi ough tillage before planting good seed aced continuous and ad careful cultivation will lunko a profitable crop of corn in the spring of 1913 we vo sent out a circular with some directions to fo corn growing in which wo we said got get tho the best good available this would be an early maturing gaiety that tha has been grown in the tha locality for a unmoor of years when this Is not possible then got get tho the best northern grown early maturing variety available along with this went the offer to furnish sew seed corn to those who were unable to procure the homo home grown seed it Is rather gratifying to learn that wherever a man has been growing corn tor for even a fow years and saving his own seed it la Is malting making a bettor better crop than any selected seed from another district if you aro not growing any corn this year and your neighbor has a good crop ask him to lot let you select lot dara cars fromet from thu hold ord vay him any arice within reason for you will find such seed letter better for your farm than any you could buy elsewhere haro jt if tho the corn la is slow in fit maturing it may bu bo cut and shocked tit at any HMO after it has reached tho the glazing stage it will matillo better tind and quicker than if left standing in III tho illo flold As aa as it Is 13 well matured husk hang up lip and tiro fire dry |