Show save old corn for use in in emergency EmerL za yency it Is possible to secure seed supply if gathered before nipped by frost prepared by the th united states state department 0 f agriculture late spring and continuous cool weather together with the higher prices now being paid for corn way may be the combination of circumstances which will cheat the farmer out of his usual supply of seed corn says saya the united states department of agriculture corn la Is very late as the result of abnormal conditions at planting time and much of it Is apt to be caught by frost before it has haa matured to the stage usually regarded as right for selecting seed then too many farmers had to replant a large acre age ge last spring drawing more heavily than they expected on their seed supply finally higher prices for corn this fall have tended to reduce this old corn source of emergency seed the department says there Is a shortage of old seed and little old corn from which to select it and suggests further the probability of immature corn this thia fall from abich seed selection will have to be made save some old ears where immature corn Is to be expected it Is suggested that seed be selected from the 1923 crop throw aside a few bushels of the likely looking ears when feeding the corn or otherwise disposing of it in order that seed may be selected from it later it if necessary the ear test for germination will III make available much seed from this old corn which can be used in an emergency A AS a further precaution it Is suggested that even though corn Is immature it Is possible to obtain seed it if it Is gathered before a frost and properly handled most communities are in touch fouch with the weather reports to such stich extent that coming frosts way may be known somewhat accurately at the first suggestion of frost make a selection i of new corn for seed corn gathered in the milk stage while not as good as ripe corn for seed if carefully dried ana protected from the frost will ger germinate minute under favorable condl I 1 tins satisfactory seed can be b a selected any time after the corn la Is in the hard dough stam stage even it not entirely mature the use of early selected seed of a strain known to be good will be safer than to buy seed later of unknown adaptation and productiveness ti veness features of selection where it Is necessary to pother gather seed before it has matured in order to eave it from destruction by frost the same features of selection should be observed select seed only from normal vigorous plants avoid smutted stalks nad and those that are prematurely dead the seed should bo be put in a dry place the same day it Is gathered and placed la in such a manner that the ears do not touch each other and where there Is a free circulation of air but not cold enough to freeze the best seed of course Is that which has matured on the stalk it if frost holds off after immature seed has hal been selected a second selection can be made and the immature seed can be used for feed in this case the only loss will be the labor of gathering and drying it it the precaution of making an early selection Is well worth the extra effort it Is a guarantee of some seed at least |