Connecticut western news., 1881-04-27
TESTING SEED CORN.
Some Seasonable Hints About the
 Corn Crop.

A very general feeling of distrust pre- vails relative to the seed corn for the next crop. In many sections the severe weather during October and November to considerable extent destroyed the germ in corn that was not carefully cured. Farmers who failed to save seed before the corn had frozen up with 8 wet cob are liable to suffer the annoy ances arising from failure of the seed to germinate. The same may be said of those who depend on corn that got wet and was kiln-dried, or on corn shelled before it was properly dried and then thrown in piles to heat. The an- noyance resulting from defective seed means more than mere loss of time and labor in replanting. It involves seri- ous depreciation in the crop, which will be put back two, three or more weeks, as the case may be.
 In every case where the planter is not certain of his seed It ought not to be deposited in the ground without first testing it's vitality. There are several ways of doing this. Specimens of the seed corn may be soaked day or two in solution of saltpetre and water, in the proportions of teaspoonful of the former to quart of water. After this soaking place the seed between two pieces of woolen cloth, wet with the same solution. Keep the cloths moist and at temperature of about sixty de- grees. If the germs are not destroyed the seed will soon germinate. Another plan for proving the vitality of corn consists Tn placing number of grains between two pieces of sod, lightly pressed together so that the grass sides come in contact. Previous to pressing the kernels into the lower sod both sods should be thoroughly scalded with boil ing water. The basin or box contain ing the sod and seed must be kept near 8 fire for four or five days in order that the sods shall be all the while warm. Under this treatm ent grains having sound germs will start sprouts, while such as have been injured from any cause will present dark dead appear ance. Seed that is quite sound will also germinate if kept sufficiently warm and moist in a shallow box of earth. Where nine grains out of ten sprout readily, the seed can be depended upon. Seed | corn that does not bear these or similar tests should be set aside as worthless and good seed obtained in ample time for early planting.
 The following advice is given as to the selection of seed corn :-Select the best corn procurable, of the type desired, and plant only the kernels from the shapely ears of high character-not the ear far larger than the type, nor smaller than the type, but of large average size of the type-and plant every kernel on the cob, the butts and the tips as we'll as the central kernels. Plant in hills, so that each plant can be readily access sible. Have the land in fertile condi- tion, neither poor nor over-rich. Then as soon as the tassels appear, and before the pollen is formed, pass through the field and remove every stalk which does not show large appearance of caring, in order that each ear formed may be seen to receive pollen from 8 plant equally as fecund as itself. From these ears, the best and most perfect in all respects, ears which we know have come from prolific fathers as we'll as mothers, select the ears for the next years plant. ing, and thus continue. Thegood effect will be very perceptible the second year, will be very marked the third year, and the fourth year will become so firmly established as to be considered almost 2 race character.