Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-02-16
Testing Seed Corn.

| 1t is not necessary to test seed corn if
you know that il is in perfect growing
condition. But who can know without
testing that any particular ear OF corn is
in perfect growing condition ? The corn
may have npened thoroughly; may have
been gathered at the proper time; may
have been carefully hung in the attic or
corncrib; and may have passed the win
ter without visible harm. ; But sometimes
atticS and corncribs leak where they are
not expected to leak. Sometimes the
snow blows in where il is not expected
to enter. II does happen that a little
moisture at q critical time leads TO diSas-
trous freezing Or the corn may mold,
as it often does. The fact is that corn
may De dead without the keeneSt eye be-
ing able to see that it is dead.
So the one sure way to know the seed
condition OF corn is to test it.
A usually careful farmer made an ear
to-row test for me last season. When
the corn was ready to cut, he saved a
sample lot of ears to carry on the expert
ment this year. Then he carefully put
the corn in basket, hanging the basket
in safe place. But he made little mis-
take. The samples from different rows
were separated by means OF sheets Of
paper; and the result was that the corn
did not get enough air, and so heated and
grew, and was worthless. No farmer
can be too careful with his seed corn.
How shall the corn be tested
Make box foot wide, four feet long,
and two inches deep. Fill it with sand
and SET it in warm place. Then lay ii
off in two-inch squares by means of twine
fastened TO tacks placed at two inch in
tervaIS along the sides and ends OF the
box. Beginning at one corner, number
along the side OF the box from to "a;
and from the same point letter across the
end from A to q. The corn planted in
the corner next TO and A will be num-
bered Al; that in the opposite corner
will be GA.
A box OF the size described will pro-
vide for testing 144 ears OF corn,-enough,
If four-fifths OF the ears are good, to plant
eight or ten acres. The kernels should
be taken from different parts of the ear.
Six grains are enough for a fairly satisfac-
tory test; though some farmers are salts
tied with five, and others, including my
self, prefer to use tes grains from each
ear. A two-inch square will accommo-
date ten grains fairly well.
In planting the corn in the tester, great
care should be taken. Taking the grains
from the first ear, press them in the sand
in the square numbered AL, and immed-
lately give the ear that number. Plant
from the next ear in the square number
ed Bl, and so on till The row is full, mark
ing each ear TO correspond with the
square. Then begin the next cross row,
and number the ear from which il is plant
ed Az; and so on to the last corner, GA,
il you are testing l44 ears. II you have
but fifty ears to test, much smaller box
will serve your purpose.
After the corn is planted in the tester,
sprinkle enough sand over the box to
cover every grain completely, though 1t
is not necessary that any Of them be COW
cred more than from quarter 10 half an
inch. Over The whole box spread an old
blanket or few thickneSSeS Of burlap, 4
Then sprinkle with water often enough
10 keep the sand moist. In few days,
if the room is reasonably warm, the corn
will begin to sprout. In from week to
ten days all of il that is good ought TO be
up. The condition of the corn can be eX-
amned from day to day by turning back
the cover.
When most OF the corn has begun TO
show above the surface of the sand, il
may be necessary to remove the cover
ing. II most OF the corn is up in ten days,
it will be safe to guess that the rest is
dead or too weak TO be fit for seed. Then
the careful work Of counting must be
done. II Square Dl3 shows only half as
many sprouts as there were grains, il will
be safe to feed Ear D13 TO the chickens.
Ii any square shows two dead grains, il
will be well to discard the ear from which
that square was planted. Indeed, it is
not wise 10 use any ear OF corn as seed
ear if more than one grain out OF ten fails
TO grow in the tester.
BY the careful use of testing plan SIM
liar to the one here described, any FARM
er can know the seed value of his corn.
and can practically assure perfect stand
by rejecting the ears that do not show
perfect seed condition AS the result OF
using such tester, many farmer may
find that his own seed is not worth plant
ing. Then he will make money by buy
ing from some one who has good seed.
But the seed that is bought should be
tested as carefully as any other; for all
of the dealers are not careful to sell only
tested seed corn.
D. w. WORKING,
Superintendent Agricultural Extension.
West Virginia University,
Morgantown.
Tbara yvoc IN Irich foreman 0f OanO