The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-03-02
BULLETIN ON THE SUBJECT
FROM PURDUE UNI
VERSITY.
Problem of Securing Good Corn Now
up to the Farmer -Ex-
periments.
perinents.

IC1C nave DtcIl lew LIlcS III lHe
history OF Indiana when it was more
important for the farmer to thor
oughly examine his seed corn than it
IS this year. Owing to the unfavor-
able climatic conditions which pre-
vailed throughout the greater portion
of the state last autumn the problem
Of securing good seed corn for this
years planting is going to be an unu-
sually difficult one Much of the
corn which appeared to be in fair
condition when stored is now unfit
for planting. There was compare
lively little really mature corn to be-
gin with and very little of it was dry
enough to escape injury when the first
heavy frosts occurred. As a result,
there is great danger Of much worth
less seed corn finding its way into the
corn planter. The writer has had
occasion during the past three months
to examine many fine looking sam
pies of corn in various sections Of the
state and many of the ears were
found TO be unfit for seed.
Not single ear which was intend
ed for seed should be allowed to pass
without a perfect examination To
make. a proper examination of your
seed corn lay all the ears in rows +
where you can get at them comfort I
ably. Take a few scattering kernels I
out of each ear and examine the I
germs carefully. Many ears which. T
for the most part, are sound will be
found to have little raised or swol-
len places where the germs are likely I
to be injured, so be careful to look
out for these. Discard all doubtful
ears. Then take five scattering kerr
nels from. each of the ears which APP
pear to be sound and make a germin-
alton test. Make separate test of
each ten ears.
A convenient method for making a
termination test is to take an empty
cigar box and a double piece of soft
newspaper about the size of the box
For each lot of fifty kernels to be
ested. Moisten one of the papers.
Dut the fifty kernels upon the mid
lie of it. fold it from both ends. as
5ou would letter. and place it into !
he cigar box As MANY of these
packages as the box will hold NAV be !,
'ut into it in this way When the
'ox IS full close it and set into a :
warm room, but away from the stove.
)pen the box every two or three DAYS
nd sprinkle in a little water. At ,
he end of five or six DAYS take the
apers out and count the kernels that {
ave terminated. Forty-five to forty 9
light kernels out of each fifty should :
ave terminated. Where this is not =
ne case. again examine the ten ears
rom which the kernels came and try !,
} detect the faulty ears and discard :
lem. 1t your seed corn is already g
lelled take several lots of fifty kerr !
els from different portions Of each ;.
lck for the termination test. Do
OF begrudge the time it will take to !:
0 this work. Do it right away. 1t :
Ill surely pay you. A few hours ;.
: a day spent In this way may make :
ou several more bushels of corn per =
IRE.
La case you should find yourself
ithout enough good seed corn try
secure some as near home as pos :,
bic. It You must go away from -
ome do not 90 far south because -
'ur season will not be long enough .,
mature the crop. IF YOU can not -
Id satisfactory source of supply >
rite to us, stating what you want, r,
I'd we may be able to direct You to M
good place. Buy your seed corn in 40
e ear and make sure that it will az
rminate before you accept it or
ell it.
We also desire to call the atten. TT
IN OF farmers to the Importance of q,
Letting their seed so as to have uni q,
rm sized kernels. Unless the ker- m,
Is are uniform in size the planter ne
n not do good work in dropping o.,
d the stand IS sure to be uneven. Go
seard the small and uneven kerr Re-
Is from the tips and butts and hand
* the rest if necessary. It will LC
Y well to spend days in preparing
ur seed corn. Do not neglect to fic,
t your planter to make sure that it
BPS the right number of kernels
A. T. Wianeko, cro