The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-03-20

picking out the ears which appear
sound. Unless he is an expert and has
had training in corn Judging, this
method is not Of great value to him.
What he should do is to select his
best looking ears and then put these
through a termination test.
Af.er selecting the best looking ears,
arrange them side by side on plaEks,
driving a tenpenny 1ail after every
tenth ear. The ears should then be
numbered consecutively, which can
be done by marking the number of
each ear on the plank with lead pen
Gil They should thea be left until
after the termination test is complet-
ed, except when they are taken out
one by one for tae purpose Of getting
kernels from them.
One of the simplest and best meth
DDS of testing is the use Of sawdust
box Use a box about two feet square
and four inches deep. Fill the box
Q vi hin an inch and half OF the top
vita sawdust, we'll packed. Select a
piece Of white cloth a little larger
,han the box d mark this OIL il Two
inch squa: es with d pencil, numbering
enough OF the squaras TO ,ell ,he mum
Der Of any Of t4em without trouble.
BY leaving outside rows vacant ali
around the box, there Will be about
100 squares. Tack the cloth inside
the box so that it rests firmly and
smoothly over the sawdust.
With the box near at hand, take the
ears from the plank one by one. Sc
lect from each ear six kernels, TAX
ing them from different parts of the
ear aud no two from the same row.
Place the six kernels from ear No. 1
in square No. 1 on the cloth, and so
on with all the ears. Kernels should
be laid with the germ side up. Put
each ear back in its place ON the
plank.
When each square in the box, ex-
cep: those in the outside rows, con-
tains its six kernels, sprinkle water
INFO the box until the corn and saw
dust are thoroughly moistened, TAX
ing care not to disturb the kernels.
Then place dry white cloth carefully
over the kernels and another clota on
top Of tais one. Finally, cover the top
cloth with sawdust until the box is
level full.
Keep the box in a fairly warm room,
leaving it undisturbed for seven days
Then catch the ends of the top cloth
and raise the cloth carefully from the
box This will take off the top layer
af sawdust without disturbing The
corn. Raise the second cloth, still Us
ing great care, and it is thea ssible
to read the tests. 500 which kernels
have germinated we'll and which have
germinated poorly. If square No. 16
shows poor termination, go to your
plank and take out ear No. Is, throw
ing it into the feed pile. Do this with
each ear w1ose kernels show poor
terminating powers. The ears left on
your plank will then be good ones
and you are ready for your planting.
If you do not secure good crop you.
can feel certain that it was not the
faul, OF tne seed.
Use one box for every 100 ears. If
desired, however, a larger box may be
used. But that described above is the
most convenient size to handle and
should satisfy the needs of the average
farmer.
The time to make this test is really
Ill Wlu'eF, Wien Lne ears WHICH IuFh
out we'll are stored for planting in
spring. However, if it was not done
in winter, there is still ample time to
make the test now and the farmer who
makes it has the unanimous opinion
OF all the experts that it will bring
him rich profits.