Sharp County record., 1881-04-28
Testing Seed Corn.

The severe and unprecedented cold
in November to very considerable eX-
tent killed the germ in corn where seed
was not properly cared for by having
been well cured and the cob entirely
dried out. This may have been done
by artificial heat-by heat from fire or
stove-or having well matured and as
sorted corn dried well and stored in loft
before the cold set in. Farmers should
test their corn for seed by sprouting,
which is attended with but little labor
or time. My plan l will give for the
benefit of those wishing to prove their
corn. Procure two sods, fit in a basin
or box, the lower one with the grass
side up, the other on top with grass
down, so that the grass sizes come close
together; then 90 to the crib or shocks
and take out promiscuously a certain
number of grains, from, say, dozen
ears, tightly press the kernels down
ward in the lower sod, then cover up
with the top sod-just after you have
thoroughly scalded with boiling water
both the sods and the roots and earth
sticking to them. Place the vessel con-
tanning the seed near the stove or fire,
and let it remain four or five days, be-
ing careful that the sods are all.the time
kept warm. Then take out and exam
inc, and all the grains that have sound
germs will be found to have shot forth
sprouts from one to three inches long;
those having been in iured will not have
started, but will have assumed a dark
appearance. | tested my seed last week
with the following result: From thirty
six grains taken from six ears, three
from the inside and three from the out
side of the heap in a loft of several
hundred bushels, every grain had
sprouted, and forty. eight grains taken
in like manner-four from the in
side and outside of eight shocks
standing in the field, three -fourths,
or thirty-siX grains, had sprouted;
but the sprouts were shorter and looked
much weaker than those taken from the
loft. The twelve remaining grains had
the dark or blush appearance spoken
of, which was attributable, in my opin,
ion, to having been frosted and injured
thereby. 1t behooves all judicious and
good farmers to look well to this and
know to certainty before planting
time that their seed corn will all grow,
A failure in this one particular always
proves disastrous to the crop. would
sooner pay three prices for irst-rate
seed than plant doubtful seed at any
price. There are five ways in which
the careful farmer may insure his next
years seed corn to grow. l. Take it
off the stalk early in September, strip of
all but enough of the husk to hang up
in dry shed or loft. 2 Husk out
early in October and dry out by arti,
iicial heat before hard freezing sets in.
3. Snap or jerk off the ears and store
away in the dry when sufficiently ripe,
and let it remain unhusked till planting
time. 4. The lazy lazy faI In5T 5 way, or
just letting the seedremain on the stalk
unshocked till after the hard freezing
has passed, the husk in these two in
stances forming a perfect preventive
from any humidity or frosts of winter
D. Burying the corn after it is well
ripencd, precisely as you would pota-
toes from winter. The aborigines OF
this country buried Their corn in hill
locks for the next seasons planting.
thus securing the ger.ns from the effects
of hard freezing. Cor. Practico!
Farmer.