The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-21

The sorghums in Kansas are now an
important factor in the agricultural
wealth Of the state. Their total value
In 1913 al estimated by =. p. Co
burn, secretary of the state beard Of ag-
riculture, was over II million dollars.
The value of the sorghums per acre in
1910 il given az $11.29 and that OF corn
upon the kind Of seed that il planted
and every farmer should have his seed
tested or do it himself.
Should Plant Good Seed.
The agricultural extension depart
ment Of the International Harvester
company has been getting out litera-
ture on the seed situation, and suggests
several methods by which seeds may be
satisfactorily tested. This department
has the following to say:
1T IL an undisputed fact that pros
perity of any town depends upon the
prosperity Of the Agricultural section
around that town.. There IL no better
business barometer than the conditions
of the crops surrounding q business
center. Every business man. whether
he be banker. editor, merchant or lum-
herman should Join with the farmer in
locating seed suitable for his locality.
Good seed will mean THOUSANDS OF
dollars increase In farm products from
your locality this coming season.
Simple termination Test.
One termination test outlined for
kafir, milo, and feterita II 20 simple
that any child can make 1t and get
found in every home. There IS no ex-
pense attached to testing these seeds.
The method 70 simple enough, so that
| it il being adopted In Thousands of
| schools In sections where these crops
are grown extensively.
Preparing to Test.
| bowl, wtde-mouthed mason jar.
or q dish, or even a tin cup may be
used for making this test: . bowl Is
best.
Fill the bottom Of the bowl with
paper, or with cloth. folded up rough
another layer Of cloth or paper. an
other layer Of the seed, and 90 on
until the bowl II nearly filled.
| Soak it for about an hour in good
up the bowl and press the water out.
leaving paper or cloth damp and wet
Use an ordinary earthen jar. n you
do not have jar. pail or water-ttght
| keg will serve the purpose. It IL al
ways best to put something in the bot
plate bottom side up) to raise bow
off bottom of the Jar.
Set the bowl containing the seed
in the Jar and pour In the water. /. e.
Iii up IHS JAI &EOuHO inc 0OWlp Ou
do not let the water run into the bowl
The water should be rather warm, bu
not hot.
II Like F1reless Cooker.
Wrap the jar up carefully in oil,
papers. It In well to crumple up
number of papers and put them unde
: the jar, as q great deal OF the radia
ton of heat will be from the bottom
/ This part should be well protected
| Keep the tester In q warm room wher
} it will not freeze.
/ If the test is put over in the morn
} ing, 1t should be watched and KEEP
warm during the day. Put In NOR
; warm water and leave stand owe
II night. The water should be kep
t warm II possible during the test.
The children can test kafir, milo an
= feterita at home or at school It vii
8 take from three to five days to ge
81 results with this test. BY this metho
+ you can test enough feterita seed 70
81 Is or 100 acres In . very short time.
Where your kafir corn. milo maiz
or feterita seed 10 now In the head.
Is a good plan to take some grain
from each head and test them eepa
rately. The discard the heads ths
are dead or weak. Where It IL thresh
ed the only thing to do As to take
| Representative sample and test II. The
increase the amount planted In prOpo1
ton to the termination Of the seed.