Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-12-09
oerminatiop Tests for Seeds.

right time and have given the seed
the very best possible care during the
winter, can we be sure that it will
grow when it is planted? While
proper methods of handling seed are
conducive to high vitality, there is
absolutely no method known at the
present time that will tell us what
kind of seed we have, excepting a
termination test. This test is easy,
simple. and inexpensive, and should
be used by all farmers every spring.
home grown corn, alfalfa, and other
! seeds which are so likely to be very
/ low in vitality.
For a description of the germina-
ton test we will use the ear test for
corn. which is the best.
Select from the lot of seed con-
siderably more of the best ears than
| will be necessary for planting the
fields. Arrange them in rows on the
floor, on a table, or on racks, and
number them in order. Provide some
large plates, and some pieces OF
heavy cloth, or blotter, which can be
cut into sections about the size Of
the plates. Divide the plates into
equal lots and place a piece of cloth
on each plate of one of the lots. Di.
Siue the area Vi tnc PidtS ito shia
sections by creasing the cloth. and
number on it in each section. II
pieces of blotter are used instead OF
cloth, cut them just the size of the
plate and mark off as many ~ or 2
inch suares on them as possible
Number each section the same as the
ears are numbered.
Remove six kernels from ear mum.
Der one, two from near the tip 9TH,
very tip and butt kernels should bt
/ removed and discarded when shellinl
for seed); two at the center, and tw'
near the butt, and place them ir
space number one on the plates. Con
tinue removing kernels from ears ant
placing them in correspondingly mum
| bercd spaces on the plates until al
are used. Moisten pieces of cloth o
blotter and place over the kernels
Cover each plate of kernels with al
place. Corn germinates best at I;
temperature alternating between 6.
and IS degrees F.. representing in /;
way what actually takes place If
nature, the higher temperature pre-
vailing during the day and the lower
at night. II is important that tho
temperature docs not get too low a
night; drop below IS degrees F
will seriously affect the reliability o
the test Temperatures such as ar.
usually found near the stove or fur.
mace in an ordinary country home ap
proach the proper conditions quite
we'll.
Examine the plates occasionally.
| and il the cloths become dry. moistcr
them by sprinkling a little water owe,
the top.
After about three or four days tho
counting should not be done unit
about the sixth day. when most Of
the sprouts will be about to ~
inches long. All ears. every kernel
| of which gcrminatcs and shows good
healthy sprouts. should be taken for
seed. II one of the six kernels fails
| to gcrminate or shows even weak
plant. the ear which they rcprcscn
should be discarded, since such ear.
show lack of vigor.
There are many other styles of ger
minators, such as a shallow box two
feet square with thin layer of mois;
| sawdust or sand in the bottom. II
sand or sawdust is not at hand tho
bottom of the box may be covered
with several thickncsscs of mois.
tened cloth. Over this lay n piece o
cotton flannel which has been mark
cd out into 2-inch squares. Numbc
the squares and place the kernel
from the correspondingly numbered
ears in them. Over the kernels place
several layers OF moistencd cottoi
lanncl or a single layer covered witt
| .nui,icncd sawdust or sand.
Planting the seed directly in mois
| sand is also a good method. and
has the advantage of having the seed
in conditions more nearly like thos'
IF the field.
The principal difference between
he testing of corn and the othc'
'ypcs of seeds is that seeds in bull
IRE tested by taking indiscriminatcl,
well mixed sample of about Ioc
seeds from the lot to be tested and
placing them in the tester. After
| hey have been in the tester long
enough. the percentage of germina.
ion is obtained by dividing the mum.
Scr that gcrminatc well by the tota
lumber placed in the tester. For seed
he size of peas, beans, etc. it is rec.
| commended to use 100 seeds: while for
those the size of clover and timothy
| 200 seeds usually give better results
Where it is available, blotting pa.
per is usually preferred to cotton
lanncl. for the smaller seeds. while
the cloth is perhaps better for th'
argcr kinds. Blotting paper should
never be used but once; cloths, how
ever. may be used repeatedly II they
are we'll washed in hot water.
Good stands OF farm crops are nee.
.ssary for good yields, and good seed
5 absolutely necessary for good
tands. consequently the best yield
will never become the rule until the
termination test becomes more uni
versally used than it is at the pres
ent time. 1t is too late to lock the
barn door after the horse is stolen,
| consequently test your seed before it
is planted. and not while part of it is
coming up in the field.