Connecticut western news., 1908-04-16
SHOULD TEST THE SEED.

Perhaps there has not been d year In the past twenty when throughout the corn belt seed corn of good germtnat- ing power has been scarcer than 1t 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 im- perative that all seed planted this year should be given careful test, which will enable one to determine the exact germinating power of each ear. It is estimated by those in a position to know that the state of Iowa alone last year lost $45,00O,0O0 as a result of planting poor and untested seed corn, and it is safe to say that other states lost correspondingly 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 1t is worth while repeating. It is as follows:
 The germination box is a simple af- 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 smooth. even surface. In case saw dust is used 1t should be put in a gunny sack and set in tub of warm water fA, IolF kkxA ,;H h
 ouGhly moistened before using. Take 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 1t over the sawdust and tack to the box at the corners and edges. Lay out the ears to be tested side by 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 un- til the germination is known. Place the kernels from ear of corn No. in square No. 1 of the germination 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 warm place so that it will not freeze. The sitting room will perhaps be the most suitable place. The ker- nels will germinate in eight to nine days. Then remove the cover careful ly to avoid misplacing the kernels in the squares. A piece of thin cloth placed over the kernels before the cov- 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. 1, Il and 20 have failed to grow, and some of the kernels in squares Nos. 2, 3, 4, 9, F and 15 have refused to grow or show weak germi- nation. The corresponding ears should be rejected. The ears showing weak germination should be treated the same as worthless ears.