Connecticut western news., 1911-04-06
GOOD SEED.

AS tue WILL So~AAS and planting N again with us 1t is well 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 filled small grain seed of his own raising 1t can be got at a reasonable price from neigh bor or scotsman. Care should be taken that such seed is well cleaned and free from noxious weed seeds. The extra quality which few cents bushel will secure is more than made up in the better stand and more vigorous growth which will be ob- tained. 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 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 a 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 pensive ready made testers on the market which are very convenient ly equipped, but a homemade tester consisting of a shallow box about 2 by feet and four or five inches 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, leveled off and firmed down. Over this should be spread one of the pieces of muslin, previously marked off 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. 1; the same number from ear No. 2 in square No. ?, 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 sawdust or earth
 The testing box should be kept in a room having a temperature of from 65 to 75 degrees, and if the filler was not moist when put in the box 1t should be watered. Seven or 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 be removed. By comparing the ears with the corresponding kernels on the key numbered squares the worth of a given ear for seed will be determined. Any ears the kernels from which do not show five strong examinations out of six should be 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 a decided shortage of seed. Seed showing weak germination 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 l necessary, when all the approved ears l should be put by themselves, shelled and the kernels sorted as to size and shape so as to give a 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 are
 coming from many quarters that the
 seed is very uneven in germinating
 quality; hence 1t would seem wise to
 use the testing box and take no 1 chances.