Seed Corn

1916

I remember well my father's kitchen of 75 years ago. It was about 20 feet square, with a brick fireplace with cranes and pot hooks, a large tin baker and a three legged spider to set over the coals. In the ceiling were driven hooks, from which poles were suspended on which to dry apples and pumpkins, and on the walls of the room were hung traces of seed corn for next year's planting. That way of drying apples and pumpkins has been discontinued, but this method of saving seed corn I consider the perfection of wisdom.

The chit or germ of a kernel of corn is imbedded in a soft wet cob, and unless this cob is dried out in a reasonable time, its vitality is impaired or destroyed.

In experiments I made years ago, I found that the seed kernels taken from near the top of the ear produced not only earlier but better developed stalks and ears than the seed kernels taken from close to the butt or lower end of the ear. The difference, I believe, was owing to the smallness of the cob and the better curing of the seed from top of ear.

Next month, farmers will secure their seed corn for the coming year, and they should give the matter the attention that its importance demands. Pick corn before main crop is harvested; get the best, discarding all ears with large cob at the butt; husk immediately, and braid into traces of a dozen ears, and hang on a rack in the kitchen or an attic with a warm chimney and a good circulation of air is an ideal place.

In three or four weeks, remove to a dry place and you will have seed corn that will not need to be tested to prove its vitality. — Maine Farmer.

Boon For Housekeepers

1901

An ingenious inventor recently noticed that housekeepers frequently find it very difficult to keep their clotheslines in proper position, and, investigating further, he learned that all those who have occasion to use ropes or cords are often somewhat puzzled when they are called upon to tighten them or to maintain them in a strained position.

Consequently he set his brains to work and invented an instrument by means of which any rope or cord can be easily and securely tightened and held in position. The instrument consists of an iron rod, at one end of which are two other small, perpendicular rods, while at the other end is a wooden handle, similar to a crank, and which serves the same purpose. The slack portion of the cord is rolled around two perpendicular rods, and then by simply moving the crank the rope can be tightened to any extent desired. As soon as the crank begins to work the rope begins to wind itself around the rods, and when it is sufficiently tightened the free end can be securely fastened by means of a prop.

The Household Garbage Consumer

1896

A Boston physician has invented a vice by which all kitchen garbage may be utilized as fuel. The material is put into a dryer through which the hot air from the range circulates until all the moisture is evaporated. The receptacle then contains a quantity of refuse that is highly inflammable and will make excellent kindling, or may be thrown upon the fire and speedily burns out.

This, of course, is practicable only where people burn coal fires. In wood-stoves the heat is not of the right quality unless the fire is kept up to a raging pitch. Where gas or electricity or oil is used for heating, this way of disposing of garbage is out of the question. There are, however, enough coal-stoves used in our large cities to make this a matter of very great importance. It would pay the Board of Health to furnish these garbage dryers to every family, and pass the most stringent laws compelling their use and proper care.

The most useful plan would be to use the garbage as a fertilizer for worn out lands, but this involves great cost and great danger. Decaying animal and vegetable matter must be carted through the streets, drippings fall upon the pavements, are dried and whirled by the wind into the nostrils of pedestrians.

Where it is possible, garbage should be consumed, and, by the way, a great deal of this is done when nothing is said about it. Many families put into the kitchen range everything of a waste character, and find great economy in fuel in consequence. — New York Ledger.