Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-03-25
Seed Selection.
IT .ac.ura bv Professor George Z. Simmons, In
the Farmers Week Course, Orono'
Tuesday, March ~

The subject Of Seed Selection-it
value, and methods adapted to leading
crops, occupied an important place 10
this Tuesday morning program, Farmers
Week, Orono. This topic was HANDLED
by Professor Simmons, of the Agronomy
Department, who discussed 1t In detail
from the standpoint OF its value to the
farmer in terms of dollars and cents.
He also gave instruction IN the pes
methods to be followed In selecting seedi
for the staple farm crops. Professor
Simmons began his lecture by saying
Seed should be selected with the idea
in mind that "like begets like" and
that. as we select the seed, We are Sc
lecting our next years crop, as far as
characters that may be inherited are con-
cerned.
The usefulness Of the termination test
az q part of the selection process foI
grains is evidenced by the following data
taken from various experiments VIII
seed testing: We select from many corn
testing experiments in Iowa, one show.
ing typical results. From one test oi
forty sam pies, the five highest gave an
average yield at the rate Of 80 bushels per
acre, while the five lowest gave an aver
age Weld at the rate of 28 bushels per
acre. The average stand from the high
Welding samples was &c. 10 per cent OF q
full stand, while that of the low yield
ing ones was 1873 per cent OF . full seand.
By reference to the test OF the samples
made, it was found that the high yield
ing samples showed an average germina-
tion test of 76 per cent strong grams, ~
per cent weak grains, and per cent
dead grains, while the low yielding sam
pies showed 25 per cent strong, 8 per
cent weak, and 81 per cent dead grains.
When We realize that the best known
method Of finding the terminating pow
er of seed grain is the testing apparatus
shown here, We realize the importance
of it's use. Valuing the corn at 60 cents
DER bushel, the average OF S2 bushels
from the five highest yielders brings q
return of $49. 20, while the 20 bushels
from the lowest five brings only $l5.oO
per acre.
The use of home grown seed corn In
the same set of experiments showed
that the yield from the home grown SEED
corn for the farmer was four bushels
more corn per acre than the imported
corn.
The results of this test are OF vastly
more Importance in Maine than In Iowa,
because of our cool, short seasons.
Seeds, particularly il brought from the
south. would show greater variation
than this.
la tests made at the Ohio Experiment
Station with hill selected potatoes the
following results were obtained, when
seed was chosen from high yielding hills
of marketable sized potatoes, and from
low yielding hills Of understood pota'
toes. These were planted In rows alter
mating az follows: first row from high
Welding hills, third from the low yield
ing hills, and the second from mixture
of half of each of tho two kinds, about
such seed as would be secured by bin
selection. The result Of several expert,
ments was as follows-for every loO
pounds of potatoes produced from the
mixture IS pounds we're produced from
the low quality seed, and l2O pounds
from the high quality seed; choice SEED
made o gain OF 68 per cent over poor
seed, and 20 per cent over ordinary DID
selected quality of seed. An increase OF
20 barrels Of pota toes for every hundred
grown would be worth looking after.
As to methods adapted to different
crops, we would suggest the following
In general, native grown corn, with me-
dunn sized ears, should be selected az
variety to be grown. Before harvesting
time. hills showing desirable character
istics sbould bs marked. At maturity
ears should be selected from these stalks
for seed ears. These ears should be So
lected with the following in mind-Ears
of a size, that may be grown to maturity
in an average year; solid, hrm ears nav
ing deep kernels, with large deep germs
The kernels should fll out fully to the
butt and tip of the cob, and allow nc
opsn burrows to show down to the cob
Cobs large at the base tend to MAKE
open spaces between the rows. AVoic
all ears showing signs of mold.
To test corn, select from each ear BIZ
grains, place them on one OF the squarel
in a box half full of sand or sawdus
covered over with muslin, that is rulee
into two inch squares. THESE squares
should be numbered to correspond with
q number on each ear. Cover this wieh
a piece of muslin sufficiently large
to fold over layer of an inch OF th'
| sand or sawdust used for q cover. Ate
preparing in this way, wet thorough.
with water, and set In warm place un'
iii it terminates. In few days examin
TO find how many kernels have GERM
mated in each square. Sufficient earl
should be saved to throw out all except
those that showed all six kernels to b
strong.
Tests for terminating power in oats
other small grains, and grass seed, ma!
be made in much the same way as IN
corn, except fifty or one hundred ker
nels may be used from each sample, In
stead of six, as in the corn. Smut.
seed must be guarded against.
A tanning mill is valuable In gradin
small grains. 1t will blow out the ligh!
chaffy material, and screen out the SINAI
grains. Kansas Experiment Station ha
secured an increase Of one TO three bush
els DER acre in the oat crop by runnin
the seed through flaming mill.
By method Of hand selection OF oats
carried over a period Of seven years, IN
Ontario Agricultural College secured a
average yield of 81 bushels with iarg
seed, "a bushels with medium seed, AM
AZ bushels with small seed. The sam
number of seed were used per acre !
each case. Hill selection for potatoes t
grow in Q small plot for seed make
possible improved seed for the fiei
crop. , !.
crease the yield per acre Of crops owe
the common method of selecting at raj
dom the seed for our crops.
To Revive Cow Test Associations.
At the second annual meeting of th
Maine Federation OF Agricultural ASS
Citations, Commissioner of Agricultul
/ II pak Of Narmar aIiklinP