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     If the general test shows too low, it may be inadvisable to attempt to get corn from this supply. This condition will probably be found upon a number of farms. In that case, one should try to obtain seed from a neighbor. If a supply of 1916 corn is available, it will be easier to get seed from that, than to try to pick it out from the 1917 crop. If no seed is available, one should find the most mature crib of 1917 corn and select from that with care, seed that will show a good germination test. If this cannot be done, then as a last resort, corn will have to be shipped in. If this is done, care should be taken to get corn that is well adapted to the conditions under which it is to grow. For many years experiments have been carried on at Lincoln and at North Platte and in co-operation with many farmers throughout the state, to study the local adaptation of corn. All the evidence indicated that it could not be obtained from conditions differing widely from those under which it is to be grown, and still make a good yield. In other words, locally adapted corn in all cases gave better yields than corn shipped in. There are probably none of us here but have had experience with bringing in corn from some considerable distance, and not adapted to the conditions. If the corn came from the East or from the South, it was usually too large and spent most of the season in producing a stalk and in consequence, giving a low yield of grain. If it came from the North or West, it was usually too small and unless planted thickly did not give a good yield of grain.

     In order to fully realize the importance of good seed corn, let me give you a few figures. Nebraska will grow 300,000 or 400,000 acres of spring wheat normally. We grow around 3,000,000 acres of winter wheat. We usually grow around six and a half million acres of corn. Last year we put in something like seven million acres of corn. That requires a million bushels of seed corn for next year's planting. Think what it would mean to use poor seed on any considerable portion of this acreage. There is no place to go to buy this large amount of seed and the solution is to get it at home or nearby if possible.

     The seed houses have reported what they have on hand. One firm reported that they had something like 12,000 bushels on hand; another said they had something like 1,500 bushels; ten seed houses say they have lots ranging from 1,000 bushels all the way down to practically nothing. There is less than 18,000 bushels total in seed houses--a very small part of what is needed. But while the situation is serious, it is not hopeless. Practically every community will be found to have some seed corn that will grow. It is a matter of finding that corn.

     The solution of this proposition will have to be worked out in the various counties. Some localities have already held meetings and one

county has reported that they have made a canvass and found that they have sufficient corn suitable for seed, for their own needs and some to spare. This scheme of making a survey from farm to farm to get actual data is good. With the farmers' organizations and the county agents and others throughout the county, what is needed can soon be determined. After that is known and it is found necessary to do so, they can look for the seed from the outside. The Experiment Station is trying to locate supplies of available seed. This is being done in conjunction with the State Council of Defense. Wherever supplies are located, tests will be made to make certain that the corn will grow, and the corn will be placed where it is best adapted.

     This is all I care to say on the subject. I hope you will all think these matters over carefully. It is vitally important that Nebraska have a sufficient supply of good seed corn to plant its six or seven million acres next spring. The situation requires careful attention but if we give it that attention there is no reason why we cannot have as good seed this year as in the past. Personally, I believe that the farmers will exercise great caution. It is a matter of getting them to select their seed early enough so that there will be no chance of delay in planting, and that if possible, seed not required for use in Nebraska may be available for use in other states.

     QUESTION: You mentioned something about buying seed corn from seed houses or securing seed corn at home.

     MR. BURR: Yes. There has been considerable experimental work done on adaptation. We have also the experience of the farmers to show that corn brought from a considerable distance will not yield as well as good varieties obtained in the same locality where it is to be grown. I would get the seed corn at home if possible. If not, I would try to pick it out of my neighbors' cribs. If that entails too much work on account of the poor condition of the corn, the seed may be purchased thru some seed house. Care should be taken tho to get corn that is adapted.

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     Conditions for maturing and curing the corn crop were very abnormal during the past season. The early growth was retarded by a cold, wet spring. Later it was again retarded by deficient moisture in July. An unusually cool August and September prolonged growth and delayed ripening. The first freezing temperature occurred in the early morning of October 8, being unusually severe with a duration of nine hours and a minimum of 24° F. This was followed by three

weeks of cold and freezing weather which retarded the drying of the corn and continued to reduce its vitality. Consequently the hulk of our 1917 corn crop is both immature and unsound.

     We are confronted with a serious seed corn situation for the coming year. One of the big questions before us is where and how to get the necessary amount of desirable seed. It is also a matter of interest to understand the principles involved in the freezing injury of seed corn. The Nebraska Experiment Station has quite fully investigated these problems during this and previous recent years. Our investigation leads us to the belief that while the present seed situation is serious it is by no means hopeless. I am rather optimistic as to the outcome. Our farmers have never yet failed to wisely meet a similar situation, and I do not believe they will fail us now.

     An indication that seed possesses satisfactory producing power when selected under similar conditions, though not quite so severe as now exist, is the fact that during the last twenty-seven years, acre yields of corn considerably above the average have been harvested in Nebraska as a whole in years following the greatest seed corn injury. The years 1896, 1911, 1915, and 1917 were outstanding years for the freezing injury to those corn crops from which seed had to be selected for the following years. Seed from the first three of these affected crops was planted in 1897, 1912, and 1916, when the average yields for the state of Nebraska, as compiled from the annual reports of the State Board of Agriculture, were respectively 30.0, 27.1, and 28.2 bushels per acre, whereas the average yield during the last twenty-seven years (1890-1916) was 24.9 bushels per acre.

     This greater production probably is not due to the seed corn difficulties, but to accidental more favorable moisture conditions in those years. Nevertheless, it gives us some assurance that predictions of low yields next season because of the seed corn situation, are not warranted.* The vast majority of our farmers will select suitable seed.

     The date and severity of the first killing frost in the fall is commonly thought of in connection with the degree of maturing, curing, and soundness of the corn crop. Table I shows the dates of the first killing frosts and the first freezing temperature, registered by the Weather Bureau at Lincoln, Nebr., during the last 21 years

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     * A splendid stand of corn throughout the state in general was obtained in the spring of 1918, giving a satisfactory early growth. An unusually dry year, however, resulted in nearly a crop failure in southeastern Nebraska. Where rainfall was plentiful normal yields were obtained.

     The duration of the freezing temperature together with the mean and minimum temperatures for the period are also indicated. The first freezing temperature registered usually, but not always, falls upon the same date as the first killing frost. The exceptions are due to the fact that the weather bureau thermometer is exposed somewhat differently than a growing field close to the earth's surface. A killing frost not registered as freezing at the weather bureau would be light indeed and insufficient to injure the corn germ. The average dates for the

Average date of the first killing frost in autumn (Loveland)

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