The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-11-27

placed where the degree of heat is
most favorable to hasten the process
of termination. The progress OF the
sprouting can be observed by looking
through tho glass. AT the end Of
tw%enty-four hours it is easy to ascer-
tam how many of the grains have
terminated and TO compute the per-
centage Of n lot of which n fair sample
has been tested. If five grains out of
a hundred did moi germitate, the per-
centago OF grain that is capable of
being conversed into malt would be 95.
u twenty grains did % germinatc
tho percentage of grain valuable to
the maltster Will be 80. BY testing a
sample the person making the expert
m-nt is able to determine accurately
tho value for mailing purposes of u
given lot.
Ih S apparatus, or some moditica-
ton of it, that can be easily prepared
by any person of ingenuity, would be
very useful for testing seed corn,
small grains, flowers and garden
seeds. IN testing seeds of different
sizes several perforated plates would
be required. These could be made of
tin, zinc, or sheet-iead, the perlora,
tons being made with II common awl.
common large glass tumbler would
be large enough to employ in making
Il piece OF apparatus lor testing gar
den and Hover seeds. The perfora-
ted plate could rest on the slantinr
sides OF the vessel, and a tight cover
ing could be secured by means of Il
piece of cloth placed on top of the
tnmbler and held in position by q
saucer or small board. The utility of
some seed as those OF the turnip. rad
ish. cauiitiower, aud cabbage, could
be determined III II few hours, while
those OF the beet, carrot, parsnip. and
tomato would require Il longer period,
as they germinate more slowly. Ii
several varieties OF seeds were to be
tested st the same time, several tumb-
icrs or other glass vessels could be
prepared in the manner directed.
There have been many complaints
during the past lew years thar seeds
obtained of dealers do not germlnute.
Tho complaints have been the most
frequent IN regard to rare and expen-
sive seeds obtained from foreign
countries. The best abused seeds
have generally been those SEM out by
VIZ ouJIllSSipUtE ol lNTl-
culture. Dealers generally state that
the failure to terminate is caused by
u~ntavorable weather, the lack of the
necessary degree of heat, or by hay
ing too much soil over the seeds. The
terminating power OF seed OF any kind
may be determined with great accu-
racy by the employ ment of the simple
apparatus described. 1t will be found
very useful not only to profes sional
seed-testers but TO farmers, gardeners,
and florists. The latter can obtain
samples of seed and test them some
weeks in advance OF the ordinary time
for planting and sowing in the spring.
They can thereby obviate the losses
thai follow the use OF unreliable seed.
They can ascertain in n few days the
excellence of any seed in the market.
This simple seed-tester might also
be employed to good advantage to
millers and coffee dealers. Probably
there is nothing positively injurious in
Hour. meal, OR ground coffee prepared
from wheat, corn or coffee beans that
are immature or have lost their vital
ity. But probably seed, OF any kind
that contain living germs are better
for human food than those that are
dead. Most OF the corn meal sold in
tbs city is very poor. 1t is lacking in
the peculiar flavor OF meal that is pro-
duccd III country mills. 1t is made
from old corn-sometimes very old.
1t is likely that tho grains contain no
living germs. They would o sprout
if planted in tho best of soil at the
season most favorable for germina-
ton. The Arabs, who first used coffee
as a beverage, declare that the beans
that wi! not terminate are unfit for
use. Being dead, they are OF no value
in sustaining life. = hicngo Times.