Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-03-23
Good Care Obyiaics Much Germina-
ton Testing

liOn lANlIUEs
At this season for several years
| past a number of satisfactory means
have been described for testing the
gormination of a few kernels from
each seed ear. Those who have neg
lected to take good care Of their seed
corn may now find dead" ears
among their supply. In such cases
II will be profitable to test the Germi-
nation of each ear separately. Where
well adapted varieties are grown that
properly mature before frost, poor
termination has never been found
among ears selected as soon as ma
ture and cared for properly. Those
who have given their seed proper
care should pick out 100 representa-
tive ears and make a termination
test Of ten grains from each ear. II
these ears germinate well it is not
necessary to test the balance of the
seed supply.
Before shelling the small kernels
should be discarded from an inch or
more off the tips Of the ears. Accur-
ate field tests have proved these small
kernels to be less productive than the
fully developed kernels of the same
ears. The thick, irregularly shaped
kernels should also be discarded
from the butts Of the ears. These
kernels produce satisfactorily but
their size and shape prevents the
corn planter from dropping them sat
isfactorlly. 1t is convenient to nub
the entire supply Of ears before tho
sheling process Is begun.
How TO Shell Seed Corn.
Many farmers who plant 20 or 40
acres of corn, carefully shell their
seed by hand and are profited by so
doing. few remarkably successful
extensive corn growers shell hundreds
Of bushels by hand. Where much seed
is required there IL a strong tempta-
tion to run ii through the corn shell
ler Hand shelling is profitable for
the small farmer and therefore more
profitable for the extensive farmer.
The sheller breaks or cracks some Of
the gernels and there is not the op-
portunity Of examining kernels from
different portions of each car as in
sheling by hand After being nub-
bed the proper way to shell the seed
ears is to shell by hand, one ear at
time, into a sieve that will let the
chaff fal Through and leave all the
kernels from the ear in plain view
for inspection. If unsatisfactory, all
the kernels can be easily discarded
and a mother ear shelled The ears
should not be shelled directly into the
general seed supply for it would then
be difficult to separate and discard
the undesirable kernels
Docs Your Planter Drop Satisfactorily
If the corn planter gave trouble
last spring better order new one
now. A poor corn planter is an ex-
pensive implement to use. Even
though the planter dropped satisfac-
torily last year, it should be tested
with this years seed supply before
planting time arrives. The kernels of
a variety Of corn frequently vary IN
size fro mseason to season and differ
ent plates may be needed this year
from those used satisfactorily last
year.
Under favorable field conditions 10
or 20 per cent Of the kernels or young
stalks are destroyed. Where extern
sive paintings are made with first
class seed and thinning is impracti-
cable about five kernels should be
planted for every four stalks desired.
Where help Is obtainable that will at
tend properly to the thinning, it is
more profitable to plant twice as
many kernels as stalks desired and
thin out the weak plants as soon as
they become too large and hard to be
destroyed by cutworms.