Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-24

what it has been necessary to replant
whole fields for no other reason than
at first planting the seed was SO weak
in its vitality that a poor stand was Sc
cured Add to this an unfavorable
terminating period where strong seed
would endure and probably come
through all right seed in its germinat-
ing qualities would make an entire fail
ure.
To avoid the possibility of planting
inferior seed corn we believe that it
stands in the interest of the farmer
to make test of his seed some time
previous to planting, and thus deter
mine something of it's worth.We would
suggest that such testing be done in
time. 1t is none too early to begin,
and by the time planting is here eth
er the corn would be found satisfac-
tory or else a new lot could be pur-
chased to take the place OF the faulty
seed.
Iii the kernels are selected to fairly
represent the entire seed definite
idea may be obtained as to the prob
able percentage of termination by the
selection of 100 kernels and putting
these under conditions favorable to
growth and note the results. Ii the en-
Vlronment is favorable and ninety ker-
neds sprout and ten utterly fail, it will
be reasonable to conclude that the per-
centage of termination is about 80.
Middles terminate Best.
We have called attention to the re-
suits in planting that occurred when
the mldle ears were selected. The
Drovers. journal would further like to
impress upon farmers something of
the results that follow when the kerr
nels from the tips, butts and middles
are planted separately Some inter
esting. experiments have been conduct
ed at the Iowa experiment station that
admirably illustrate the point we de-
sire to make. For instance, 500 kerr
nels were selected from each portion
OF the ear-butt, tip and middle--mak-
t ing 800 in all These We're planted
| in such manner that there was abso-
lutte accuracy in securing the number
/ that terminated at certain periods. OBJ
1 servations We're made at the end of
| seventy-two hours and others at 9f
! 120 and IA hours. The percentages
/ VI ilC tAlSS lUlo tldt ildu ECl lulAdlSN
! at each observation are given in the
| following table:
500 tip
/ 500 butt 400 middle. kernels
j (Per cent of germination.)
At end of Y hours.
I19 sos 562
At end of sc hours.
| $50 STA SIS
At end of 12J hours.
!, TAG 92S 72.S
AT end OF 144 hours.
/ S3.S "a SS.s
/ If the reader will carefully study
| the above table for few moments
he will observe some interesting
/ things. For instance, he will find tina
/ at the end of 72 haurs 10 per cent o
! the butt kernels, SAG per cent OF the
middle kernels and 37.2 per cent of the
! tips had terminated. Let the reader
follow the results for each period Il
4 the end of the 144 hours. While the
| variation at the end has changed
somewhat, it is an interesting fact
4 that the middle kernels are still ahead
by nearly'11 per cent.
! The importance Of this to the read
4 er. will be plain. The majority 0
! farmers understand the fact that tn
stronger seed is that which germin
lates and appears above the grounc
psoonest. When man sees this he a
once begins to look forward to ;
steady growing thrifty crop. On thu
/ other hand, when the corn comes III
slowly, as is the case with either TIL
butts or the tips, he soon feels the dis
Icouragement Possibly some one will
suggest that they do not plant tip
and butts to the exclusion of the mid
4 dies, but we feel assured that the.
can appreciate that when the tips an
/ but kernels are allowed in the see
the average percentage of quick gel
mination is accordingly decreased
Thus in addition to getting the ear
!, from favorable locality it is also i'm
portant that the kernels be CAREFUL
i. selected by discarding all butts an
tips before the seed is shelled fror
the ear.