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on the stalk are objectionable as they are generally late maturing, hard to husk and, because of their position break the stalk easily in a wind storm. As a rule ears born high on the stock point nearly straight up, allowing snow and rain to enter beneath the shuck and decrease the vitality of the kernels.

     Corn that is thoroughly matured contains about ten and one-half per cent of water. In the fall of the year, at the time of our first killing frost, it contains a far greater quantity. Experiments have proven beyond a doubt that the harder and oftener corn is frozen, the greater is the decrease in vitality. Those who tested seed that remained in the snow and freezes of the winter of 1909-1910 are convinced of this fact without further argument.

     The majority of us wait until spring to select our seed. We then go to the crib, scoop the corn from side to side and select the largest and deepest kerneled ears. This is a mistake. If the facts were known, these large ears came from the low, fertile places in the field or where the stand was exceptionally thin and if planted on medium ground under average conditions they will not prove so efficient as the average sized ear raised under adverse conditions. Practically all the

corn in the crib was husked after a severe frost. The ears selected were frozen when put into the crib. During the warm fall and spring days they thawed out, it turned cold and they froze again. They had no chance to dry out. Mold set in. It is reasonable to believe that corn selected and cared for in that way is not fit for seed. Another method often used, to which there are some objections, is selecting the seed at the time the corn is unloaded. After the ear is once in the wagon one can tell nothing of the stalk that produced the ear or the location of the stalk in the field. As a great many farmers practice unloading after supper by lantern light, much corn is necessarily selected in the semi-dusk. The larger ears many of which are sappy and immature are of course the ones that attract the selector's attention. When a man has husked corn all day he is tired, his sense of sight is somewhat dulled and he is, as a rule, in no mood or condition to select seed by lantern light. Some fasten a box alongside of the wagon, others partition off a small space in the wagon. When a good ear is found, the intention is to put in either the box or the space partitioned off. This is generally the result: We husk along all day and forget to select seed. About dusk we see that we have only three seed ears selected. "Well," we say, "that won't do, I'll have to get that box full" and we throw every large ear into the seed box. Another thing, a farmer can hardly expect

his help, hired to husk by the bushel, to stop, examine each ear he husks and place the desirable seed ears in a small space partitioned off for that purpose or in a box alongside of the wagon. There wouldn't be much in it for the hired man.

     The last three methods mentioned above are all improvements on the "Crib selection method," but the selecting is all done after the corn is frozen, and as a general thing without any definite knowledge of the stalk that produced the ear or the stalks surrounding it.

     The person who has lived in the state for a few years can almost Invariably predict a killing frost a few days in advance. This varies considerably in different sections. All seed corn should be selected before a killing frost. This means we should go through the field and select our seed before husking time. Probably the easiest method is to tie a hitch-strap to the top and bottom, on the same side, of a gunny sack. Pass the strap over the right shoulder and allow the sack to hang under the left arm. This leaves both arms free. The farmer can now pass through his field and select ears conforming to his ideal. If he is especially particular, he can fasten an ear to his suspenders and use this ear as a sort of pattern to follow.

     Some men collect their seed in a common market basket carried on the arm. This method has the advantage of leaving the corn exposed, and enables one to select corn of a more uniform type.

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© 2003 for the NEGenWeb Project by Ted & Carole Miller