The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-05-09
Testing Seed Corn.
lThe Carroll Herald.l

Testing Seed Corn.
(The Carroll Herald)
Prot. P, G. Holdin Makes Practical
Suggestions on the Important Cues
tion of Seed Corn Tests.
A man extensively iptrusted in farm
ing came to the Herald Office Saturday
and asked that something be procured
question of testing seed corn. We
have procured from the profession the
following suggestion Referring to a.
cut on page 277 of a recent bulletin is.
sued by his department he says: The
above cut illustrates one of the most
convenient methods for testing the
vitality of seed corn. Fig. No. shows
the box in which are placed folders
containing samples OF corn to be tested.
Fig. 2 shows folder ready to put in
the box after the edges have been
folded down over the corn. Any box
viii answer the purpose although the
cigar box represented in the cut, or q
wooden one like it, is preferable.
The folders should be thoroughly
moistened before placing the corn in
them. Put four or five thicknesses of
moistened paper in the bottom OF the
box and as many more over the samples
to prevent drying out. Then shut the
cover and dry out, and set away in
the sitting room or some place where
the temperature does not fall below So
degrees. The best folders are made
by taking five or six thicknesses of
newspaper and cutting in strips about
five by ten inches and folding as shown
in the cut. The only precaution neces-
sary is to be sure that the folders a"e
thoroughly moistened before the corn
is placed in them for testing. In two
or three days 1T will be we'll to examine
the corn and if the folders are getting
dry, they should be moistened by
sprinkling water over them in the box
AT the end of Ave days the samples
should be taken out examined careful
| ly. Every kernel that has not at this
time sent out vigorous root and stem
sprouts should be counted unfit for
seed. The corn ought to test not less
than 81 to 95 pei cent. This method
has the advantage of requiring very
/ little attention and makes it possible
o see whether the kernels are making
uniform and vigorous termination,
which is very important. Keraels
which make slow, feeble termination
are not fit to plant.
He goes on to say: It's good plan
to make a preliminary Test of the
vitality of the seed before the sorting
is done, to determine whether it is fit
for seed purposes or not. This can
best be done by selecting from the pile,
say fifty or one hundren ears, and re-
moving two to three kernels from each
ear testing them. If the termination
test show 81 per cent or above, the
seed will certainly bein good condition.
1t is important that each ear of corn
be shelled by itself so that it can be
examined more closely before it goes
in with the rest of the corn. If the
kernels are shrunken at the tips, too
pointed, discolored, or germ is small,
indicating low feeding value, the whole
chN,,1I ho 1;eoo cd Tf "a
other hand, the ears of corn are all
shelled together, it will be impossible
to select out all the weak kernels.
After the corn has been sorted, she'll
ed and thoroughly tested in the planter
1t should be put back in sacks, about a
bushel in each sack and hung up in a
dry place in the loft or where there is
thorough circulation of air and where
it will be free from mice, but do not
hang it overa stable.
He says in another place: One of
the simplest methods Of testing seed
corn, and one which requires little at
tentioD, is to fold up twenty FIVE or fifty
kernels of corn in piece of wet paper
and put it in box. There is nothing
better than cigar box for this purpose
The paper should be thoroughly wet
and several thicknesses used so that it
will not dry out. 1t is we'll to place
some moistened pieces of paper in the
bottom of the box and again on the
top of the samples to hold the moisture.
In order to make thorough test 1t
will be we'll to Iprepare at least
five or six samples like the 5ne describ-
ed above. They should all be put in
the same box and string tied around
it so as to hold the cover on tight, 10
prevent the corn from drying out. At
the end OF three days it will be we'll TO
examine the corn and if the papers are
getting dry they can be moistened. At
the end of five days the final examina-
ton should be made.