Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-05-21

Experiments made last year by DR.. Sturte-
want of the New York agricultural experiment
station tended to show that kiln drying seed
corn greatly increased its value. Further ex-
periments made at the station this spring
have indicated a greater vigor of the plants
from kiln-dried seed. When the corn from
Kindred seed was five inches high, that
grown from seed taken from the crib was
only three inches. In all the experiments,
except one, larger proportion of the kiln
dried seed has terminated. In the exception,
the per cent terminating was alike.
1t is popular belief that termination is
hastened and early growth promoted by soak
ing the seed in water or in some prepared So
luton before planting, and perhaps this is
not altogether inconsistent with the result of
DIR. Sturtevant's experiments with kiln dried
seed, as might at first appear but We should
hardly expect the plants from such seed to
make a growth of five inches while those
from undried seed of the same quality, in
equally good soil, grew only three inches
There seems to be no conceivable reason for
80 great difference yet there ia no ques-
ton that, in general, seeds retain their vitali-
ty longer and are otherwise better for having
been very thoroughly dried-perhaps kiln
dried. We have had a little experience in
the use of over-dried cucumber seeds. Some
of these, which we're spread out by the fire
to dry, we're so heated that they turned dark
cherry color, and became quite brittle We
thought they were spoilt, but found by test
ing that they would terminate. Being plant
ed the following season, and also the next
season-which was the past year-they were
found to be the best cucumber seeds we had
ever used, nearly every seed terminating and
coming up with the first leaves of fine dark
color.
Commenting on the result of his expert
ments on the condition of seed, DR.. Sturte-
want says:
1T is an experience of ours whose truth
cannot be questioned, that as between two
samples of equally fresh seed preserved I'M
der different circumstances there may be a
very wide difference in germinatiye and vege.
tative properties, and that freshness of seed
alone and careful selection alone is not suifi.
Gent in every case TO furnish the best result
In addition, the method of preserving the
seed must be considered as Of importance, fol-
our trials with seeds of primarily equally
good quality indicate that seed which is most
carefully preserved and kept over will moi
only retain its vitality longer, but will also
give better results in planting. 1t is certain
ly good advice, and advice which it is vel
for the farmer to heed, to select carefully his
seed corn from his bin, or better still, from the
field aud to carefully keep over to the nexl
season in warm and dry place. At the pres
ent time the advice ia certainly justified, by
the facts at our command, for the farmer tC
select his seed corn by taking the best ears
and, after Smelling, TO put in warm plao,
and allow to thoroughly dry before using il
the spring.
Seed corn when planted too early is offer
destroyed in the ground. This destruction
does not come from the cold, as often assum
ed but from other conditions, the most i'm
portant of which is the slow termination O.
the seed aud a vitality which cannot endur,
this circumstance, and also the action o
mold, which grows rapidly at a lower tempe
nature than will suffice for the corn. |
therefore holds good in practice that to thos,
who plant early the very best of seed is o