Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-09

to increase the corn crop in Iowa by
his lectures and tests and urging the
farmers to plant better seed corn than
any, other man. Professors A. H. Sny-
der, r. X. Bliss, L. E. Troger, and ].
H. Toulouse, travelling representative
of Successful Farming. of Des Moines,
who looked after the interests Of the
press.
| Fifth Day Of Special.
| The special train consisted of four
coaches. Two of these were lecture
cars, one was for supplies and the
fourth was the living quarters of the
men on the train. Friday closed the
fifth dav of the Milwaukee seed corn
special. The lecture cars have been
1 crowded at every stop, the Ames pro-
fessors having addressed so far this
week between twelve and fifteen hun
dred farmers. The train closes its
| weeks trip at Des Moines tonight.
Names Four Important Things.
Professor Snyder in his lecture de-
clared that the four things that will
contribute to bring about better and
larger yield of corn were as follows:
First-Test each individual ear; sec
ond, grade the corn and then see that
the planter is properly adjusted and in
good working order Third-plant the
hest seed on one side of the field, that
lis. select number of the very best
ears from those tested and she'll to-
gether and plant on one side so as TO
select seed from there for next year.
Fourth-Select the seed corn before
| October 1.
In opening his lecture, Professor
Snyder stated that as much care
should be taken in the selection OF
seed corn, as is taken in the selection
| of an animal to mead any herd or flock
| on the farm. Professor Holden In one
of his lectures on the tour said: II
every farmer in Iowa would follow the
four rules laid down our ten million
acres of corn would produce nearly
one hundred million more bushels OF
corn. worth to the farmers OF Iowa
$50 900 ,OOO." Professor Snyder in his
address voiced the sentiments of Prof.
Holden.
The Termination Box.
Professor Snyder in his lecture
said:
"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 pc
made by anyone in an hour Any box
about three or four inches deep and
thirty by thirty inches in size may
be used. Fill the box about half full
of moist sawdust, 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 Tor
still better, over mighty so that it will
be thoroughly moistened before using.
Rule off a piece of good white clotn
(sheeting) about the size OF the box,
checker board fashion, two and nall
inches each way. Number the squares
one. two, three, and SO on. Place 1t
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 ker-
nels from the opposite side in like
manner, making six kernels in all,
thus securing a sample from the en-
| tire 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 it. 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.
i In square No. 1 of the termination
box: from ear No. 2 in square No. 2
and SO on with all the ears. Lay a
piece of good cloth on top Of the kerr
nels and dampen by sprinkling water
over it. Then place over this a 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 warm
place where 1t will not freeze. The
>sp ~.>au> anS - ~l0