Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-21
Planting Corn,

Planting Corn.
The following bulletin of the New
York Agricultural Experiment Sta.
ton deals with an important topic:
What causes maize seed to rot in the
ground in early springs If the cause
is one that comes under our control
1t is well that we should know it, in
order that by forethought we can pre-
vent 1t, and thus save replanting In
many cases, and also obtain larger
number of plants in proportion to the
seed planted. The cause of the fail
ure of the seed usually assigned is
cold rains and cool temperature. Is
this explanation correct one?
Some experiments that we have
made would indicate that low tenn
perature in itself is not cause of
failure In the seed. Two varieties
each of dent, flint, soft and sweet
corn, and three varieties of poo corn
were taken for trial, one ear of each
variety being shelled, aud the same
seed being used throughout in the ex-
periments. Experiment one 1. Tenn
perature 4S So to IS s. continued IL. e
days, 100 per cent. of the seed ger
minated. Experiment 2. Tempera.
ture IS, g to 50.70, continued IL days,
all the kernels terminated. Expert
ment 8. Temperature 43,5' to 40 60
continued AZ days, 80 per cent of the
kernels germinaied. Experiment 4
Temperature Al 80 to 43 g, continued
90 days, when 6S per cent had germin-
ated, the balance of the corn all
sound. and gave every appearance of
being near termination could we
have heightened the time tried.
The lowest temperature at which
the process of termination will take
place IN maize, according to Sachs
and other botanists, is 4S.9'F. It will
be observed that in our tests, germin-
alton took place at temperature of
1877 and below. Yet, even at this
low temperature we secured, after a
long interval, termination, and, what
is still more remarkable, there was no
Fotting Of the seed. Hence, we seem
to have a sufficient answer 10 the
question with which we commenced:
That low temperature alone is not a
sufficient explanation for the rotting
of corn in the field.
We noted as an interesting fact that
whenever the slightest speck of mold
was seen upon the kernel, or upon the
cob which furnishes the kernels that
were taken, we were greatly troubled
with mold during the germinative
process, and that manv kernels
rotted in the apparatus. When the
kernels were selected from lots in
which no appearance of MOLD could be
detected, the termination, SIS a rule,
was very perfect.
In another series of experiments,
the seed being a different source from
that noted above. but the temperature
for 25.7 days at from Al, So
to @3 =, we were troubled by the APP
pearat CO of mold in seven out of the
twelve cases, which was gradually in
the seed and retarding ger
The average termination
of twelve varieties after an interval of
GIG hours was Al per cent, while un
der the same temperature with the
station seed selected as previously
noted. the termination was on an
dfOfdSO 1OI OIVfOA 10 UCT
cent. It seems very plausible to &C
count for the discrepancy by the ap-
pearance of the mold in the one case,
and not in the other.
While we do not know from actual
examination whether under the con-
ditions of planting, mold occurs, even
from seed containing the germs, when
placed under ground, yet we we do
know from actual trial, that as be-
tween two trials the one with seed
which is presumed to be free from
mold, and the other with seed taken
from moldy cobs, the percentage of
termination is largely in favor of the
perfect seed.
Hence, from the sum of these var
ous trials, we deem it a safe recon-
Inendation for the farmer to use in
creased carefulness in selecting seed
corn. and to farther advise that In
seed, the corn which has
been in contact with moldy cobs, Or
which comes from a bin in which
mold has made, at any time, consider
able progress, should be rejected.
In the matter of seed corn, we may
sum up the conclusions gained by eX-
pertinent and experience as follows:
1. Klln-dried seed, or seed dried at
a Temperature of 90 perhaps more, is
preferable 10 seed from the bin
3 That every farmer can afford to ex-
ercise the utmost care to avoid select
ing molding seed, or seed from
moldy lot of corn. 8. That compact
ing the sod over the seed as planted
it being presumed that the soil is in
fit condition for planting-will be
found to compensate in part for in
ferior quality of seed, and with the
best seed often will, under certain
conditions of soil and climate, become
an important factor toward obtaining
the full stand which accompanies
maximum crops.
Items for Husbandmen.