Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-08-11
SEED CORN.
a Test OF Its AbilIty to Grow Undsr
Ordinary Field Conditions.

II
grow without testing ii, but there are
very few who can afford to rely upon
selection alone and omit a test. They
may think they can, but that is only
because they have tried their
ability under exact test conditions
that is, they have never planted well
tested seed by the side of that which
had been selected merely and noted the
different results. In view of these
facts the Iowa Homestead afirms that
every corn grower should ties, as well
select with a the seed he pur-
poses to use, and, as to the manner Of
the. test, it advises as follows:
There is a disposition among those
who test their seed corn TO do 1T In the
easiest way-that is to say. between
wet cloths, under carefully chosen and
exceptionally favorable conditions. But
what the corn planter desires to know
is not what per cent of the grains will
terminate under the most favorable
conditions. but rather what per cent
VIII not only put forth vigorous roots,
but a vigorous plant under field c0ndi-
GSl1US hSOhE WCS SAOl1S AZ q
pan will show q great many more
grains terminating than will ever
make q plant that ought to be allowed
to grow as a part of the field stand.
In testing, therefore, an effort should
be made to give an approximation to
field conditions.
As a means to this end we would
suggest that a shallow box should be
procured large enough to contain the
seed to be tested. Put into it a couple
Of inches of soil. well pnlyerized. place
the seed upon this sufficiently thick,
taking a to count the seeds. and
then owe with, say, two inches more
Of the soil. Keep the soil moist in the
box in a terminating temperature. The
seed should come up In from fvet to ten
days, eight days being about the aver
age If there be no forcing conditions
supplied. Before making up ones mind
as to the vigOr$ of the seed the plants
should be permitted to grow an inch or
two In height. BY that time the OBJ
server a form q good opinion Of the
percentage of the seed that Will grow.
and grow vigorously.
After these have been counted, il the
experimental will examine the seeds
yet In the ground he will find that q
considerable number of them have put
forth rootlets, but lack vigor sufficient
to make plants. In an ordinary wet
cloth test In a pan these grains would
be counted good when, in fact, for the
III nor1f4slr,c - ryn3aE,N xhn Scood x1O,sr1 IS In.
tended to grow they are not good at
aI-no better, In fact, than those that
] did not even terminate. It is reasons
OF this kind that render It necessary to
make the earth test under conditions
as near like those of the field as posi-
BILE, rather8Sthan to rely upon q mel
pan test between cloths.
The Hnrd Lot of b GrindstOne.
The grindstone on the farm sees
pretty hard usage. The softer the
stone, the harder usage 1t receives. The
grinding surface OF the stone is more
likely to be as shown at the left Of the
cut than it is to have an even face Oh
slightly beyeled surface, as at the righi
In the same picture. The former con
dition comes from grinding axes
scythes, machine knives, etc. witt
their edges Iengthwise of the stone In
stead Of across it. This cannot bt
helped in grinding some tools. Blu
when the stone does sun thil
, shape. making It Impossible to grind /
chisel or any fiat edged tool decentIy
81 II is n good time To get a sDade-Dade,
are usually dullland hold II on th,
stone until It is sharp. when the irregu
Iarities in the surface of the stone vii