Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-04

The corn planting season is at hand
and the importance OF testing the seed
viii not be overlooked by the careful
ard progressive farmer. for the char
acter or seed used constitutes an inn
porant part in determining the yield
which the harvest will provide There
u no use IN working for several months
70 prepare a seed bed and go to the
expense and labor OF ferrinzing the
crop and neglect 70 secure a strain OF
seed adapted to the locality and which
VIII terminate with sufficient vigor
% insure a perfect stand suppose
Zoe ears OF average corn shell out
a bushel OF grain, and the plan is 10
grow at least 1000 stalks per acre.
This would indicate a yield OF 40 bush
els. but IL only $500 mature and de-
velop there would be a loss OF five
bushels per acre The chances are II
the land has been properly prepared
and cultivated that there is sufficient
moisture and plant food in the soil to
have produced 40 bushels, the differ
ence IN yield being due TO a failure
to secure a proper stand This IN
stance but illustrates a common sight
met with in the corn fields OF the
south. namely the poor character OF
seed corn used and the low germina-
ton which results Dhe writer has Of
ten seen a stand so mucn at variance
to the standard which might have been
expected for a given soil as TO indi-
cate a loss Of from to 20 bushels
per acre II is perfectly plain, there
fore. that IL is essential and desirable
that seed corn be tested so that only
the grain obtained from vigorous and
prolific ears may be planted with the
hope OF insuring a perfect stand. and
thus securing the yield which the soil
the farmer might naturally anticipate
The question devolves, therefore. on
how the testing OF seed corn may be
done simply and effectively and with
economy with regard to time and labor
on the part OF the farmer.
EASILY MADE.
The apparatus to be used may be
easily provided on any plantation AL
that Is necessary is q box with COM
rarativeiy tight bottom and not over
three to four inches fin depth in the
clear on the inside. II should be about
is inches wide and from to IL
feet long. depending on the number OF
ears TO be tested II viii be simple
matter TO construct such box, OF
better still. packing box may be Sc
cured al the store and cut down TO the
dimensions indicated When the box
Is ready il should be filled TO the tor
with pure sand. which should be care
fully saturated with water and the
grains OF corn planned in rows two tc
three Inches apart across the narrow
way OF the box II shelled corn has
been purchased for planting, the basis
Of calculating It's terminating power
viii be determined by the per cent OF
grains which terminate out OF each
ice planted. The standard for Nigh
termination has been fixed at not low
er than s5 per cent, and all corn
which fails TO show q termination In
the boxes OF at least 30 per cent
that IL. 90 grains terminate out OF the
100 planted. should be discarded, for
the chances are when subjected "a
field conditions. which will not likely
he 50 favorable as those prevailine
in the boxes. the stand will be even
lower
one should never purchase corn ex-
cent on the ear for planting, and wher
this is done, ten grains should be Sc
lected from each ear and planted IN
separate rows across the box The
grain should be selected from differ
ent rows and from different parts o.
the ear. For instance. two OF thres
should be selected from near the butt
as many more from the center. and the
same from near the top If the eal
Is not perfectly formed the misshaper
grains at the tip and butt should bs
eheIIed off and discarded. because
thew will not distribute uniformly
through the planter, and though mis-
~hapen grains viii terminate as vel
as the perfect ones, the chances art
that the germs are not so uniformly
developed, which is an important mat
ter 20 bear in mind. II ten grains pei
ear are planted. IL is assimple mattel
10 calculate the ratio OF termination
For instance. IL nine grains terminate
the percentages would be 90; II eigh
terminate. SO. and II ten terminate
100.
VIGoR OF GRAINS.
There is much difference in the Wig
or OF the grains from various ears
as one viii find who attempts 10 tes
It's matter for himself in the mannel
indicated. II viii not take more thar
three or four hours time on the par
OF the average farmer to test all tn
seed corn he expects TO plant this year
II this method were followed, no doub
half OF the corn which will otherwise
he used for seed will be discarded
surely a matter so simple and yet 81
fundamental in It's results is well WORT
the consideration Of every good farnie
in Georgia. and even though the sea
son he somewhat advanced for under
taking the testing Of the seed corn