The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1883-03-10
Test the Seed.

80 Nih' w 0NNt NHl'il ~ w w HbN "
In large quantities should be tested be-
fore using it. THIS RUE should not on.
ly be observed with seeds purchased
but with those saved by the gardener
and farmer Tor his own use. Almost
every year we hear Of failures TO secure
n good stand OF corn and o'her grain
on account OF poor seed, which might
have been avoided II the seed had been
tested before planting and sowing.
Seed corn is more likely to be injured
during winter than almost amy other
kind OF grain, because IL is usually left
on the cob. and II exposed to moisture
the cob absorbs It, the grain attached
swclls, and even ma es an @ 'ort to
grow II then shrinks again rs the at
mosphorc becomes dry, without In The
least changing the outward Appearance
OF the grain, while the vitality may be
greatly weakened II not entirely des.
troyed Seed-corn. for this reason,
should always bc stored in a very dry,
cool place, and II Is n good plan to hang
II up IN tho crib or some dry building
during The winter months. But II care.
fully spread ont TO dry when first gath.
cred in the fall, II may be preserved in
good condition in open, well. ventilated
bins or barrels.
However carefully 1t may have lccn
kept or sound II may appear In spring.
Il is n good plan to she'll a small lot and
test il before planting time arrives.
Fifty or a hundred kernels OF average
quality should DO taken and planted in
a box OF good soil or pure sand. aud
thon set In n warn position in the
house, whore, II good, the sprouts will
soon appear above ground. Count the
number, In order 10 know the proper
ton Of good seed. and then try some
other kind Of seed In the same box.
II every farmer would test his seed corn
in this way. we would then know
whether to lay the blame OF fai urc ON
the seed or TO uniayorable weather or
errors in planting.
All seeds purchased should DO tested
In like manner, because no one would
desire to incur the expense OF fitting
the sol for any kind Of u trop and then
use seed that will not grow. Most
kinds Of small seeds. such n onions,
bccts, carrots. aud even wheat emil
oats, may be tested BY sowing in sand.
or oven on sheets OF cotton placed In a
shallow dish and kept moist and warm.
We prefer sand to soil in testing seed.
because It is not so likely Ia get hard on
the surface after giving water from time
Ia time rs 70 uirrd aud rs tho ob ect Is
not 10 raise the plants. but merely To
test their vitality. rich soil Is entirely
unnecessary. Neither Is light required:
consequently n dark room is rs good
for this purpose rs any other. In testing
tree seeds or those with n hard or tough
horn-like covering. considerable heat Is
required To open the pores m admit
moisture. which Is es entail In sprout-
ing all kinds Of 5 cd.
some kinds. such as the honey anil
black locust, may 10 immersed IN boil
Ing ale aud allowed TO remain In Il
until cool; after which mix thcm with
sand and set them rcar n fire. or whore
tho temperature will range between
seventy and ninety degrees II the
seeds spruut under these conditions. the
entire quantity TO be- sewn may lie sub.
icctcd 20 the same kind OF treatment a
few days before sowing in spring. 1t Is
well not to leave them In the spruuting
boxes too long. or some II the sprouts
will 10 broken on In handling and sow.
ing. Il often happens I ri locust. Usage
orange. and other kinds OF tree seeds
become 50 dry that the moisture Of the
ground In sprins and IT, low tempcra.
turc are not sufficient 20 insure germ.
nation; but after they have been once
started rs we have directed. growth
will proved without cessation. In est.
ing verv minute seeds cars should ID
taken 10 cover them properly. for II
they Arc buried deeply many kinds vii
fail 10 show any signs Of life. either in
doors or out II sprcad yer = smooth
surface Of sand. a sheet Of paper oveI
them kept wet will be sufficient.
such ext eriments as VIZ have Do
scribed may not only prove Of greaI
value In determining the quality O
ones stock Of seed. but most person
may learn from them something NOR,
than they ever knew before about tn
growth Of plants. They win see tha
some / nds Of seed rise out Of the soi
a. the radic'e OF riot pushes down int,
~ while others throw up s,em-th'
seed proper remaining Al the depth q
which u was irxt placed iieans an
peas show these two opposite character
istic& In fact those who have an
taste or inclination to observe sue
things a find much 10 amnse and IN
strurt them IN testing the seeds 10 b
used IN the garden % The laral IN !
s~s-