Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-02
THE SEED CORN TEST.

There is probably no field Of agrl-
cultural effort which is just now re-
ceiving a greater measure of attention
ing and testing of seed corn. For
weeks past the seed corn gospel trains
have been making their trips through
the corn belt Of the central western
states, giving to hundreds and thou
sands Of farmers the salient points on
this very important subject. Professor
Holden Of the Iowa State Agricultural
college, who Is the originator of the
corn gospel idea, is experimenting one
of these trains. For the benefit of those
who may not be able to take advantage
of the lectures given by these corn ex-
perts we give below a condensed de-
scription of this method Of testing
corn:
The most practical way for testing
the termination Of each ear Is by using
a termination box This is a simple
affair and can be made by any one in
an hours time. Any box about six
inches deep and 2 by feet in size may
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of moist sand, dirt or sawdust, well
pressed down, SO that 1t will leave
smooth, even surface. In case saw
dust Is used 1t should be put in a gun
ny sack and set in a tub of warm wa.
ter for half an hour, SO that 1t will be
thoroughly moistened before using.
Take a white cloth about the size Of the
box and rule it off checkerboard fash
ion one and half inches each way.
Number the checks 1, 2, 3, and so on,
and place 1t over the sawdust and tack
to the box at the corners and edges.
Lay out the ears to be tested side by
side on the floor; remove one kernel
from near the butt, middle and tip Of
the ear; turn the ear over and remove
three kernels from the opposite side, In
like manner, making six kernels in all,
thus securing a sample from the entire
ear. Place the six kernels at the end
Of the ear from which they were taken.
Use care that the kernels do not get
mixed with the kernels from the ear
next to it After the kernels are re-
moved boards may be laid over the
rows Of corn to keep them in place
until the termination Is known. Place
the kernels from ear of corn No. 1 in
square No. / Of the termination box,
from ear No. 2 in square No. 2, and so
on with all the ears. Then place over
this a cloth considerably larger than
the box; cover with about two inches of
moist sand, dirt or sawdust and keep In
a warm place so that 1t will not freeze.
The sitting room will perhaps be the
most suitable place. The kernels will
terminate in four to six days. Then
remove the cover carefully to avoid
misplacing the kernels in the squares.
"a piece Of thin cloth placed over the
kernels before the covering is put on
will prevent the kernels from sticking
10 the upper cover) Examine the ker-
nels In the termination box. For ex-
ample, the kernels In squares Nos. 1.
IL and 20 have failed to grow, and
some Of the kernels In squares Nos. 2, g.
4, 8, IL and 10 have refused to grow or
show weak termination. The CORE
spending ears should be rejected. The
ears showing weak termination should
be treated the same as worthless ears.
We are all aware that there has been
OF late a very marked advance In the
price Of leather. The hide of a beef
critter is worth more than twice as
much today as it was four years ago.
A reason for this is to be found In the
great demand made upon the leather
supply by the automobile trade of the
country and the further fact that Amer
lea is now not only producing shoes for
our own people, but is capturing the
markets Of the world. The hide of the
old Gamer is now worth as much as
the meat.
IN ADDITION TO being a state executive
OF more than ordinary forcefulness
and man Of unique and striking per-
sonality, the late Governor Hogg pos
sessed large fund Of common sense,
which was manifest In the injunction
given his children at the time Of his
death to plant at the head of his grave
a pecan tree and at the foot walnut
tree, closing with the following fine
sentiment: when these trees shall
bear let the pecans and walnuts be
given out among the plain people Of
Tesas, SO that they may plant them
and make Texas a land Of trees" This
will doubtless prove more enduring
memorial of the man than the wealth
he accumulated or the political honors