Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1910-03-02
THE TERMINATION BOX.
This is Simple Affair and Can Be
Made by Anyone in an Hour
Get Rid of the Poor Ears.

The most practical way for testing
the termination of each ear OF seed
corn is by using a termination box.
This is a simple affair and can be
made by any one in an hour. Any
box about 3 Or 4 inches deep and 80
by 80 inches in size may be used. Fill
the box about half full of moist saw
dust we'll pressed down so that it will
leave smooth even surface. The
sawdust should be put in gunny
sack and set in tub of warm water
for at least an hour Cor still better
over night so that it will be thor
oughly moistened before using. Rule
off a piece of good white cloth
(sheeting) about the size of the box,
checker-bOard fashion, two and
half inches each way. Number the
squares l, 2, 3 and so on. 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 oppO-
site side in like manner, making six
kernels in all thus securing sam
pie from the entire ear Place the six
kernels at the end of the ear from
which they are taken. Use care that
the kernels do not get mixed with
the kernels from the ear next to 1t.
After the kernels are removed
boards may be laid over the rows
of corn to keep them in place until
the termination is known. Place the
kernels from the ear of corn No. l
| in square No. l of the termination
box; from ear No. in square No. 2
and so on with all the ears. Lay
piece of good cloth on top of the
kernels and Gampen by sprinkling
water over it. Then place over this
cloth considerably larger than the
box and fill in on top of this with
about two inche of moist sawdust
and press down firmly, folding the
edges of cloth to cover the sawdust.
Keep in a warm place where it will
not freeze. The kernels will germin-
ate in about 6 days. Then remove
the cover carefully to avoid mis-
placing the kernels IN the squares.
Examine the kernels in the germina-
tion box and discard all ears that
are worthless or show weak germin-
/ alton.
This box as it is made up with the
corn in it and ready to be set away
for termination may be described as
follows:-TwO inches of moist saw
dust firmly packed in the bottom;
then laid upon this sawdust is the
termination cloth (ruled in squares)
with the kernels of corn laid upon it,
a second cloth spread over the
kernels, then a third cloth larger
than the box spread over this with
1.-TWO inches OF moist sawdust packed
firmly over this.
Special Things to be Observed.
Be sure to soak the sawdust at
least an hour-or better still over
night.
| Use good quality of cloth (sheet-
in) for the cloth that is marked OFF
in squares and the cloth which is laid
over the kernels.
Leave at least two inches margin
around the edges of the box to pre-
vent freezing and drying out
| Rule the cloth of in large squares
(2hx2k inches).
Never use the box the second time
without first thoroughly scalding
both the cloths and sawdust. (The
cloth better be untacked and the
sawdust removed to do this.)
Do not open too soon. The stem
sprouts should be at least two inches
long.
Throw out all ears showing weak
termination as wei. as the worth
less ones.