The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1883-01-05

hAfEhiMENT IN DETECTION OF SEED
coRN.-Therc has always bccu a prevalent
opinion among farmer, that the middle
Kernels OF anear of corn are the most per-
fectly developed, and would be the best for
planting. Hence it is the general custom
with those who are particular in such mat
ters to she'll off the butt aud top grains, aud
only use those in tn, middle DR.. Sturte-
want, director of the New York Agricultural
Experiment Station at Geneva, has made
careful and accurate trial this season. a,d
the results-us far as one season indcates-
Will be surprise to farmers who have fol
lowed the general custom
lie used fair averaged ears of Wausha
kum corn, and planted kernel by kernel on
two plats in eight rows, each kernel oc,
cupying in the row the relative position it
occupied on the car. One ear was thus
dlaSrammed on manured and the other on
unmanurcd soil, leaving efficient pace
Iikstasecn the ailtsrent portions 10 ensure
IMccuracy The detaiIs of the experiment
would take more space than we can snare
but the following are the general results
IN regard to the ,productiveness of the
grains
lst. The tip kernels were the most pro-
lihc OF good (merchan able) coru.
2d. The butt kernels were more prolific
OF good corn than the central kernels.
I'd. The tip kernels bore longer ears t han
the other kernels, the butt kernels the next
aud the central kernels the shortest.
18th. The merchantable ears from the bu;t
weie distinctly heavier than those from the
tip, and those from the tip distinctly hcav.
Ter than those from the central kernels
9th. The kernels furnished more unmer.
chantable corn than did the central ker.
nels and the central kernals more than did
the tip kernels,
DR.. Sturtevant states in conclusion, in
order to ensure accuracy, "lhe cars are hus
ked by ourselves, and each plants product
laid by itself upon the ground at the foot of
the stalk which bore the crop, thus ensuriny
against mistake in the counting, measuring
aud weighing. Three separate observers
carefully went over each row aud verified
each others conclusions, and ,hus absolute
asre' ment in observations was secured on
the spot"
Here are the comments of the Eln,ira
RuJdnlnan in which the statement is
officially published:
"The results Of ex perimcnts conducted bv
DR.. Sturtevant to- determine relative values Of
SEED corn. with reference to location on the cob,
appears in the bulletin printed in this paper
An examination of the figures will surprise fir
mers who have unthinkingly accepted the old.
time idea, that kernels from the tips and butts
OF ears are unproiuctive. The evidence of a
single trial, carefully made, favors the PROPOSE
ton that the tip kerDels are superior to those
taken from any other part of the ear Yet these
kernels are systematically rejected by many
good farmers because apparently imperfect de-
veopment suggests the conclusion that they are
imperfect seed. II is true the experiments re.
ported in the bulletin when repeated NAV not
yield similar results. but there il no valid rea
son to suppose the difference will be any thing
except in degree. AS the facts stand il NAV he
assumed that farmers have nursed a curious
iaila y IN selectings is not il IL
SELF matter ~of extreme Importance to know
that tip kernels as seed are superior to others,
but 1t IS OF great importance to have full and
general acquaintance with laws that govern
production, for that attainment will lead
moro surely to uniform andpro6table results
They work of the Experiment Farm is
conducted with special reference to the
attainment of such knowledge, and in this view
the evidence furnished by this trial of seed corn
is valuable. IL is and incident that shows the
possibilities Of fallacies incorporated in the
practice of the most intelligent farmers. There
are other points in the present bulletin deserv.
ing OF notice, as, for instance, insufficient re-
turns from the fertilizer used We commend
the whole TO the consideration of farmers who
seek enlightenment il their calling"