The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-03-26
TESTING SEED CORN.
ANY Farmer Can Make His Own
termination Tests.

his seed for planting at once, is the
advice of Prof. w. L. Hutchinson,
Of Clemson College. Prof. Hutchln-
son urges every farmer to make
termination test of his seed. which
numerous experiments have proved
beyond a doubt will result in a large
increase in yield An ear-to-row
test with seed that has been tested
for terminating powers will be sure
to pay a farmer handsomely in fu-
ture crops, but even if he makes
only the termination test this year,
he is likely to have his yield in
creased from FIVE to ten bushels an
acre, at least. The test is so SIM
pie and requires so little time in pro-
portion to results that there is no
farmer in the State who cannot make
IT.
The average farmer in this State
selects his planting ears by sight
alone, picking out the ears which ap-
pear sound. Unless he is an expert
and has had training in corn judg-
ing this method is not of great value
to him. What he should do is to Sc
}ect his best looking ears and then
put these through termination test.
After selecting the best looking
ears arrange them side by side on
planks, driving tenpenny nail 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 pencil. They should then be left
until after the termination test is
completed, except when they are
taken out one by one for the purpose
Of getting kernels from them.
One of the simplest and best
methods of testing is the use of
sawdust box. Use box about two
feet square and four inches deep. Fill
the box within an inch and half Of
the top with sawdust, we'll packed.
Select a piece of white cloth little
larger than the box and mark this off
in two inch squares with pencil,
numbering enough of the squares to
tell the number of any of them with
out trouble BY leaving outside rows
vacant all around the box, there will
be about one hundred 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.
Select from each ear six kernels, TAX
ing them from different parts of the
ear and no two from the same row.
Place the six kernels from ear No. l
in square No l on the cloth, and so
on with all the ears. Kernels should
be laid with the germ side up. Put
each ear back in it's place on the
plank.
When each square in the box, ex-
eept those in the outside rows, con-
tains it's six kernels, sprinkle water
into the box until the corn and saw
dust are thoroughly moistened,. TAX
ing care not to disturb the kernels.
Then place dry white cloth careful
ly over the kernels and another cloth
on top of this one. Finally, cover the
TOD 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 care
fully from the box. This will take
eff the top layer of sawdust without
disturbing the corn. Raise the Sec
ond cloth, still using great care, and
it is then possible to read the tests.
See which kernels have terminated
we'll and which have terminated
poorly. If square No. 16 shows poor
termination, go to your plank and
take out ear No. 16, throwing it into
the feed pile. Do this with each ear
whose kernels show poor germinat-
ing 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
fault of the seed
Use one box for every one hun
dred ears. If desired, however, a
larger box may be used. But that
described above is the most conven-
lent size to handle and should satisfy
the needs Of the average farmer.
The time to make this test is real
y in winter, when the ears which
turn out well 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