The lot which you deem best on account of shape, etc., may have a grain inferior in some respects. Mix with this corn of desirable quality as to grain, soundness and other desirable characteristics. You have now selected your seed, as far as eye can aid you. You do not wish to spend time or pay hands in replanting corn. It will be best to take a grain from each side of the ear at different places (numbering the ear), and try these in the sprouting-box, if you think necessary, and discard the ears that do not germinate. But in my experience I have never failed to get what seemed to be a satisfactory stand, where good seed was selected. However, each one can determine this for himself by sprouting some of his seed and comparing the stand when planted from the ears with that not tested by sprouting. Nineteen hundred and nine was an "A. B. C." year with North Carolina farmers in corn production, and especially in seed selection. In fact, most of them will do the first real selection this year (1910). You cannot produce a reliable variety of new corn in one year. Do not be discouraged, but continue the work until you get what you wish, and then be as careful to preserve your type by proper attention to the seed. Different soils and environment will require different varieties and types of corn. Seek for that which your farm proves to be most productive of good quality. In nearly all of the States the following points are used in judging seed corn: Uniformity, Trueness to type, Shape of ear, Color, Market condition, Tips, Butts, Uniformity of grain, Shape of grain, Length of ear, Circumference of ear, Space between rows and grain, Proportion by weight of shelled corn. If desired, other points can be added to these, or any of these omitted or combined, as any association may wish. Each association or other authority can fix the value that each point shall have in determining its total of 100 points. 48 BIENNIAL REPORT COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. The usual rule for length and circumference is that circumference, one-third distance from the butt, equals three-fourths of total length. The points can be consolidated, increased, or diminished in number, as each determining body may conclude will best concur with their ideas. TENTH REPORT OF THE GENERAL CROP WORK ON THE DEPARTMENT TEST FARMS FOR SEASON 1909 INCLUDING VARIETY AND DISTANCE TESTS OF CORN AND COTTON. BY J. L. BURGESS, AGRONOMIST, ASSISTED BY R. W. SCOTT, JR., Superintendent Edgecombe Test Farm. R. W. COLLETT, Superintendent Buncombe Test Farm. On the following pages are recorded the results of this year's work with the variety and distance tests of corn and cotton on the Department's test farms. The testing of these two factors in the production of cotton and corn is of the most fundamental importance, as is evidenced by the difference in yield of different varieties and of different distancing when grown side by side in the same field, on the same type of soil, with identical cultivation and fertilization. Its importance is further emphasized when it is considered that 64.7 per cent (17.5 per cent to cotton and 47.2 per cent to corn) of the cultivated lands of North Carolina are devoted to these two crops, with the small average annual yields of 220 pounds of lint cotton and 18 bushels shelled corn per acre. If by carefully conducted experiments through a number of years the most advantageous distancing and most prolific varieties of corn and cotton on the different types of soil for an average season can be ascertained, and farmers generally be induced to use the best varieties and distances in growing these crops, material assistance will have been rendered in increasing the total amounts per acre of these crops grown in the State. Increasing the average yield of corn 1 bushel and seed cotton 50 pounds per acre will, according to the census of 1900, increase the annual profits of the farmers of North Carolina by about $3,650,000, allowing 60 cents. per bushel for shell corn and 312 cents per pound for seed cotton. This does not appear, with the hearty co-operation of farmers, such a far-distant possibility, in the light of results during the past seven years in our testing of varieties of corn and cotton. EDGECOMBE TEST FARM. The work on the Edgecombe Farm last season included the testing of 37 varieties of corn. A large number of varieties of cotton were put out, but untoward weather conditions prevented our getting a sufficiently good stand to justify publishing the results. A glance at Table No. 1 will reveal a wide variation in the yields of the different varieties tested. It will be noted that the Northern and Western varieties, that have been accustomed to very different soil and climatic conditions, do not yield as well on this farm as varieties previously grown in a lower latitude. Among these Northern and Western varieties may be mentioned Boone County Special, Leaming Yellow, Reid's Yellow Dent, Riley's Favorite, and Iowa Silver Mine. A large number of the varieties yielded over 30 bushels per acre and a few over 40 bushels per acre. Biggs' Seven Ear made the largest actual yield, but it will be noted that this variety had over 100 per cent of a stand, while Marlboro Prolific yielded over 32 bushels with only 77 per cent of a stand. The lowest yielding varieties were Riley's Favorite, Boone County Special, Parker's Cock's Prolific, and Reid's Yellow Dent. A great difference in the weight of a measured bushel of these corns will be noted. A number of them weigh as much as 8 pounds above the standard, while one falls 4 pounds below the standard 56-pound bushel. Indeed, but 3 of the varieties have the standardweight bushel. All the others, but one, weigh over 56 pounds to the bushel. TABLE NO. 1-RESULTS OF VARIETY TESTS OF CORN ON NORFOLK SANDY LOAM SOIL AT EDGECOMBE TEST FARM, 1909. 2 2 2 2 3 2 8 8 8 8 8 2 2 8 8 8 64 63 62 64 60 57 62 62 60 61 64 60 59 58 Per cent of Perfect Stand. Number of Ears to Shell One Bushel. 57 Grant's Premium. 84.0 156 27.7 2,100 Johnson's Prolific. 90 0 28 2 2.025 60 56 63 57 56 |