The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1916-02-03

.f.ftecialHy Necessary This 4ear to
Determine Viabiiity OF Seed
in Asiaynce OF Planting.
Testing seed corn for termination
always d profitable farm practice
lis an absolute necessity this year
s"dr many sections. In a number Oh
districts the last corn crop from
which seed for the coming planting
Will be taken was late in maturing
OF so moist when harvested as to
call for special precautions. A high
moisture content makes seed corn
particularly susceptible to damage
from freezing or heating Farmers
III this section where corn failed to-
ripen normally who do not test their
seed early enough to be able to re-
place their own bad seed with good
seed secured from other sources will
:. be taking an unnecessary risk. 1t
> is also especially Important for hold
ecs OF seed in such districts to take
unusual care during the remainder
o. the winter to protect it from
freezing.
While compile tests for germina
tion should take place shortly be
fore the seed is planted, the spec
ialists Of the department believe
that it will be simple forehanded
neSs for the farmers who have any
reason to be doubtful about the via
!3ility of their seed to make pre-
liminary germanating test With a
few typical ears taken al random
from the rack. If these preliminary
Tests show that the seed is good, the
owner can continue his precautions
to guard it from weather damage.
Ii, however, this test with q few
ears ind: cate that the seed is OF low
vitality, the farmer should at once
,>snake further tests to satisfy him
self as to whether his seed corn gen
orally is good or bad.
If farmer finds his seed is bad
he should take steps at once to meet
the difficulty. The purchase OF seed
should not be delayed till spring, es-
pecially when so much corn in var
ious sections has been damaged. The
farmer should secure his seed from
we'll known sources, buy it upon a
terminating guaranty basis, and get
his seed or typical samples early
enough to make his own germanat-
=, ing tests. 1t is probable this year
that many farmers who have not
followed the wise practice of select
lAo cLOuSu SpCCldl Stcu from SOOu
crops to last them in an emergency
Tor two or three years will have to
fuy seed. In buying seed, farmers
should try to secure corn OF yarie-
ties known to prosper in their sec
ton, The safest seed would be chat
carefully selected from good corn
grown in the immediate neighbour
hood, but at any rate effort should
he made to obtain seed grain in dis
tricts where climate, soil and farm
in5 conditions in general are similar
to those at home.
If the the farmer happens to have
va stock of seed saved from his 1915
crop, he would do we'll to test the
Older seed also and then use which
ever shows the greater vitality. Seed
corn did not mature normally, it'll
tain it's vitality for several years. |
> Many farmers knowing this always
select an extra amount OF seed from
an unusually good harvest
The following method of testing
seed corn is taken from Farmers
Bulletin 704. The corn is placed on
drying racks made by driving wire
finishing nails about inches apart
on four sides of a stick. A number
is placed over the rail and the butts
OF the ears are put on the nails. II
wire fencing or other seed racks are
used, the ears can be numbered in
other ways.
In single ear testing. two kernels
flom opposite sides of the ear on
the top, two from the middle, and
Two from the butt are put in num-
Dered squares or portions of ger1nin-
atlng FOXES or other testers. The
kernels are kept moist at a room
temperature not above 80 degrees F..
nor below SO degrees F. After six
or seven days the seed should begin
to sprout. Only those ears from
which all the kernels give strong
sprouts should be reserved for
planting.
Under ordinary circumstances, it
may not be absolutely necessary to
test every indentical ear. If large
Number of typical ears show germi-
mating tests as high as 81 per cent.
the seed in general may be consid-
cred good Under the unusual con-
ditions prevailing this year, espec-
tally in neighborhoods where the
scorn did not mature normally, it
should we'll repay corn grower to
test every ear that he intends to use
FOR seed. If he has any reason to
doubt the quality of his individual,
stock, the ear-by-ear testing is sim
oily, form of labor and crop insur-
ance.
Before testing termination, the
farmer should examine each ear and
throw out all the ears which do not
look right or which have several
Withered or damaged kernels. He
should strive to make up his sell
from ears which in size and appear
ance seem to be normal for his var
ie+v of corn. Seed corn should be
shelled if possible by hand to avoid
the risk of damage by mechanical
Smelling. Before Smelling the owner
should picck out peculiar looking
Iyorno1c orH conoroto tbo coo17