Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1910-03-31
THE TERMINATION BOX
A Good Method Of Getting Rid of the
Poor Ears of Seed Corn as Told
by Professor Holden

The most practical way for testing
the termination of each ear of seed corn
is by using termination box. This is
simple affair and can be made by any
one in an hour. Any box about or
inches deep and 80 by 80 inches in size
may be used. Fill the box about half
full of moist sawdust well pressed down
so that it will leave smooth even sur
face. The sawdust should be put in
gunny sack and set in tub of warm
water for at least an hour Tor still better
over night 80 that it will be thorough
ly moistened before using. Rule off a
piece of good white cloth (sheeting)
about the size of the box, checker board
fashion, 2a inches each way. Number
the squares l, 2, 8 and so on. Place it
over the sawdust and tack it 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 secur-
ing sample from the entire ear Place
the six kernels at the end of the ear
from which they have been taken. Use
care that the kernels do not get mixed
with the kernels from the ear next to
it. After kernels are removed boards
may be laid over the rows of corn to
keep them in place until termination
is known. Place the kernels from the
ear of corn No. l in square No. of the
termination box; from ear No. 2 in
square No. 2, and SO on with all the
ears. Lay piece of good cloth on top
OF the kernels and dampen by sprink-
ling water over it. Then place over
this cloth considerably larger than
the box and fill in on top of this with
about two inches of moist sawdust and
press down firmly, folding the edge of
cloth to cover the sawdust. Keep in a
warm place where it will not freeze.
The kernels will germinate in about six
days. Remove the cover carefully to
avoid misplacing the kernels in the
squares. Examine the kernels in the
termination box and discard all ears
that are worthless or show weak GER
mination.
This box as it is made up with the
corn in itand ready tobe set away for
termination may be described as fol-
81 SD
firmly packed in the bottom; then laid
upon this sawdust is the termination
cloth (ruled in squares) with the ker-
nels of corn laid upon it, second
cloth spread over the kernels, then
third cloth larger thon the box spread
over this with two inches of moist saw
dust packed firmly over this.
SPECIAL THINGS TO BE OBSERVED.
Be sure to soak the sawdust at least
one hour-or better still over night.
Use good quality of cloth (sheeting)
for the cloth that is marked off in
squares and the cloth which is laid
over the kernels.
Leave at least two inches of margin
around the edges of the box to prevent
freezing snd drying out.
Rule the cloth off in large squares %
by q inches.
Never use the box second time
without first thoroughly scalding both
the cloths and sawdust. The cloth had
better be untacked and the sawdust re-
| moved to do this.
Do not open too soon. The stem
sprouts should be at least two inches
long
Throw out all ears that show weak
termination as well as the worthless
ones.