The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1912-03-14
OF IMPORTANCE
: TO FARMERS
State AgronOmy Dept Urges Far.
mers TO Test Seed Grain

Aberdeen News. The South Da,
kota farmer who fails to test his
seed corr and small grain seed be.
fore planting this year, and thereby
fails to raise the crop his labors af.
ter planting justly entitled him to,
need blame no one but himself for
the disappointment. The newspap-
ers Of the state have been filled with
warnings concerning the necessity
of testing the seed this year; farm.
ers' Institutes have devoted large
space in their deliberations to this
important subject; farm papers have
been crowded with articles dwelling
upon the matter. and the state col
lege has issued an important bulletin
upon seed testing and the methods
to be pursued. The agronomy de-
partment of the State college at
Bookings advises every farmer 10
ltest his seed. A careful test may be
the means Of saving thousands of
dollars after planting. This depart
ment has been making termination
tests of seed corn, barley, wheat, al
falfa. fax, oats and clover sent in by
farmers living in varions parts of the
state. Much of this seed has been
carefully selected. therefore the re-
suits are probably higher than the
average would be for the whole
state A report of the test says:
of twenty-six samples of corn
terminated for farmers. only six
samples tested above 80 per cent,
only IL above 80 per cent, and ID
were below 80 per cent. The aver
age percentage for the twenty-six
samples was GO per cent. Not a
single kernel of n sample grew.
and another tested only 6 per cent.
This means that if this corn is plant
ed next spring. only two-thirds of a
stand can be obtained at best; and if
we make allowance for unfavorable
weather at planting time. we shall
haye to lower this estimate consid-
srably. The average percentage of
Ave samples Of wheat tested was 70.
Two samples tested 81 per cent each,
and m 81 per cent. This means
that one-fifth more seed must needs
be sowed in order to get a good
stand. Tests of two samples of bar
lev also gave an average of 79 per
cent. One sample of oats tested 80
per cent. These figures show that
the small grain seed situation is far
from the best. They further prove
the necessity Of testing seed before
its is sowed."
The agronomy department sug-
gests a simple plan for the germina'
ton of small grains, AS follows:
Place a moistened cloth or blotter in
an ordinary dinner plate Or pie pan.
Then count out 100 seeds of the
grain you wish to test, making no
selection, but simply taking them as
they come. Distribute this 100
seeds over the blotter so they are
not crowded, and vel the whole
put an inverted dinner plate or pie
pan to prevent evaporation of mois-
ture. Put the pan or plate in a
warm room, and in the course of
four or five DAYS you will find the
seeds ready to be counted out TO de-
termine the percentage of those
which will live, or which will grow.
Since you use 100 seeds in the test,
the number of seeds that will grow
will give you the percentage. If at
any time the cloth or blotter be-
comes dry. sprinkle a little water
over it. This test is not recon-
mended for corn.
For testing seed corn you might
use a box in which is placed a cloth
ruled off into 2x2 inch squares. so
that the kernels from the various
ears may be kept separate. Turn
the cloth back over the corr
and put a piece of glass or oilcloth
over the box to prevent evaporation
Of moisture. This test IS simple.