The Sauk Centre herald., 1911-07-06
GOOD SEED.

GOOD SEED.
and planting is again with us it is
we'll as in the years gone to take
stock of the kind of small grain and
corn which is to be used in the pro-
duction of the new crop. If one does
not have plump, well filed small
grain seed Of his own raising it can be
got at q reasonable price from neigh
Dor or scotsman. Care should be
taken that such seed ia well cleaned
and free from noxious weed seeds.
The extra quality which a few cents
a bushel will secure,.is more than
made up in the better stand and more
vigorous growth which will be OBJ
tanned. The earth bed in which this
seed is put should not be given scrub
preparation, but should be made fine
and mellow and the seed drilled in to
an even depth In the case of the
seed corn a careful individual ear test
should be made. A farmer of good
sense and eyesight who has had .ex
perience in the matter can without
doubt tell whether given kernel of
corn will germinate in a majority of
cases by cutting through the chit, or
germ, with a jackknife; but, since
the kernels on one side of an ear
may be good and on the other bad,
the testing box method is a good deal
safer. There are a number of mex
nensive ready made testers on the
market which are very convenient
~ equipped, but homemade tester
consisting of a shallow box about
deep and three pieces of muslin ex-
ceeding the dimensions of the box by
about eight inches will answer the
purpose nicely. About three inches of
sawdust or earth should be put in the
box, levefed OF and firmed down.
Over this should be spread one of the
pieces of muslin, previously marked of
in two and half inch squares and num-
bered consecutively, beginning at one
corner. The edges of this should be
tackled to the inside of the box so as
to Keep it in place. Six kernels of
corn-three from each side-from ear
No. should then be placed in square
No. l; the same number from ear No
2 In square No. 2, and so on until
six kernels each have been taken
from as many ears as there are
squares on the CLOTH. When this has
been completed the second cloth
should then be placed over the one
bearing the seed and on this the
third, the edges of which should ex.
tend well over the sides of the box.
On this should be carefully spread
about two inches more of sawdnst or
earth.
The testing box should be kept in a
room having a temperature Of from
IS to Is degrees. and if the iller was
not moist when put in the box it
should be watered. Seven OF eight
days will tell the story, when the good
kernels will show vigorous sprouts
The upper cloth, bearing the earth or
sawdust, should be carefully removed
so as not to disturb the second cloth
covering the seed. This should then
he removed. BY comparing the ears
with the corresponding kernels on the
hey numbered squares the worth of
given ear for seed will be determined
ANY ears the kernels from which do
not show five strong germina tinns out
of six should he discarded entirely.
while those showing one bad kernel
out of six should be kept by them
selves and not used at all unless there
is decided shortage of seed Seed
showing weak termination is worth
less, and ears from which it is taken
should not be used. The test may be
repeated as many times as may be
necessary, when all the approved ears
should be put by themselves. shelled
and the kernels sorted as to size and
shape so as to give uniform drop
with the planter Notwithstanding the
fact that the past season seemed to-
be one especially favorable for the
maturing Of seed corn, complaints arc
coming from many quarters that the
seed is very uneven in terminating
quality; hence it would seem wise to
use the testing box and take no
chances.