Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-03-11
AGRICULTURE NOTES
President. II. Fulk.
Secretary. W. Stewart.
Treasurer Edgar Ilcnshaw.
County Agent-W. M. BeWick.


Treasurer Edgar IIcnshaW.
County Agent-W. M Bewick.
The topic for discussion at the Fall
ing Waters Farmers Club Meeting
last night was Corn" special atten-
ton being paid to those phases of
corn growing that are of interest in
the spring of the year. Charles Ru-
Bile was on for talk on Prepare
ton of the Soil for Corn Consider
able interest was aroused in the mat
ter of a termination test of the seed.
Robert Lands was the one especial
ly chosen to discuss this topic but
his talk was followed by a general
discussion.
The Bureau of Plant Industry be
lieves that all seed corn should be so
well cared for that all of it should
terminate, The termination test of
corn is advised for proving this fact
only. However. we know very well
that the average seed corn is not
handled as it might be and that the
termination test will disclose many
poor ears of corn.
Farmers are apt to think that the
test of individual ears is gigantic
task and consequently, out of tie
question. A brief description of
simple tester may help to prove that
such is not the case. A square box
about feet by feet about or 4
inches deep should be half filled with
sand or saw dust. Over this is tack
ed a piece of burlap or similar ma
terial, which is marked off in 100
squares. each square numbered with
an indelible pencil, 10 each way.
Then another piece of burlap of the
same size is tackled to one side of
the box only.
100 ears of corn are placed ready
to- test. either by laying in rows
to correspond to the rows of squares
on the burlap, or preferably by num-
bering little pieces OF paper and
fastening same to butt of ears of
corn. Five or six u some other con
yenient number of kernels are taken
from different parts OF each ear and
placed in the square with the CORE
spending number, care being taken
not to injure the ear After all is
done, moisten with warm water, COW
er with the fly leaf of burlap and
keep warm and moist for about one
week. Then open and determine
which ears have good strong germ,
ination from each kernel.
The county agent will be glad to
explain this test more carefully to
anyone interested. He will also be
glad to illustrate and explain the So
called Rag-doll Tester" to any in
quirer as he finds many who prefer
it to the boX-tester, Ask him about
il.
Don't fail to test your seed in
some way. You cannot afford to
plant a single poor ear because every
ear that doesn't grow means several
hundred stalks missing from your
stand of corn.
AT least you should test one 100
ear sample of corn taken from differ
ent parts of your seed supply. If
this proves perfectly satisfactory You
may conclude the rest is the same.
If two or more ears out of the hun
dred do not give a good test, it will
pay to test the rest of the supply of
seed, also.
The women were especially invited
to this meeting at Falling Waters
and a number were present. Some
of the men were of the opinion that
the women would take charge of the
seed corn testing, after hearing the
discussion on that point, according
to the familiar saying Man works
from sun to sun but woman's work is
never done" so maybe they will no;
mind one more task added to then
duties.
Tonight the Vanclevesville Agri-
cultural Club will meet at Rams
burghs Hall and take up the first
number of the reading circle-"Crops
and Methods for Soil Improvement"
The usual good attendance and in
terest is confidently expected.
Thursday night, the regular mee.-
ing of the HedgesyilIe Reading Cir
Gle will be held. Members and alb
interested are cordially invited