Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-04-09
SHOULD TEST THE SEED.

Perhaps there has not been year in
the past twenty when throughout the
corn belt seed corn of good germinat-
ing power has been Scarcer than it is
going to be this year This is due not
only to the unfavOrable season for the
crop last year. but the usual careless
ness in saving seed that was good and
sound. In view Of these facts it is i'm
perative that all seed planted this gear
should be given Il careful test. which
will enable one to determine the exact
terminating power of each ear It is
estimated by those in a position u
know that the state of Iowa alone last
year lost $45,000,0O0 as a result of
planting poor and INFESTED seed corn.
and it is safe to say that other states
lost CORRESPONDENCE from the same
cause. OF several plans which have
been tried for the testing of seed corn
perhaps there is none which is simpler
or gives more satisfactory results than
the Holden method. This has been
given in previous years, but it is worth
while repeating. 1t is as follows:
The termination box is a simple az
fair and can be made by any one in
an hours time Any box about six
inches deep and by 3 feet in size
may be used. Fill the box about half
full of moist sand, dirt or sawdust,
well pressed down, so that it will leave
a smooth, even surface. In case saw
dust is used it should be put in q gunny
sack and set in q tub Of warm water
for half an hour, so that it will be thor
oughly mOistened before using. Take
a white cloth about the size Of the
box and rule it off checkerbOard fash
ion one and a half inches each way.
Number the checks 1, =, 3, and so on,
and place it 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 i'll
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 I'M
til the termination is known. Place
the kernels from ear of corn No. 4 in
square No. 1 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
che box. Cover with about two inches
Of moist sand, dirt or saWdust and keep
in a warm place so that it will not
freeze. The sitting room will perhaps
be the most suitable place. The kcr-
nels will terminate in eight to nine
days. Then remove the cover careful
ly to avoid mispacing the kernels in
the squares. A piece of thin cloth
placed over the kernels before the COW
ering is put on will prevent the ker-
nels from sticking to the upper cover.
Examine the kernels in the germina-
ton box. For example, the kernels in
squares Nos. /, IL and 20 have failed
to grow, and some of the kernels in
squares Nos. 2, 3, 4, 8, u and 10 have
refused to grow or show weak germi-
nation. The corresponding ears should
be rejected The ears showing weak
termination should be treated the same
as worthless ears.