Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-05
TESTING THE SEED CORN
Experience Proves the Virtues jpf tho
'RaE Doll" Ncthod-Itccom-
mcndcd 10y the Y. T.. L.

Hi.AcKSBURG VA. February e.
w. T.. lowers. OF the asronomy depart;
mont. Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
has This TO say about what is known
as the rag doh" methods of testing
seed corn:
Experience has proved beyond doubt
tho value OF an individual ear test for
seed corn. There are various methods
Tor Inah!Eg this test. hut ono of the
cheapest, ~ we'll as tho most con
r"Hient and accurate. is the rag doll
method
I'm making preparations for tho test.
secure sh""iinE Of good quality and
tear INTO strips from eight to ten inches
wide and from thrc" to nvr feet long.
IT IS best To hem tho edges of these
Strips If they are To L." used very much
as This will prevent diSarrangement Of
IN" Kernels by tn. ravcllings in uu-
rolling" Mark each strip lcngthwisc
down The middle with a heavy pencil:
then make lines crosswisc about three
inches apart forming squares three
inches wide. Two or three inches
should be left al the upper end. where
IA" Numbering is begun. for tapping
after the roll is made. Number the
squares either leusthwisc or CrosswiSc
as the operator prefers beginning with
ON" and continuing until all the squares
are numbered. Moistcu tn. cloth and
lay out in front OF the ears 10 be tested
which are numbered Ia correspond to
the numbering Of the squares Remove
SIX Kernels from different positions
near tho middle Of car number one and
place in squar" number one: six kernels
rom car number two in square two
and SO on until the cloth is nIIed Then
begin at the lower end where numbers
'wcNtN-nin' and thirty arc located and
roll the cloth very loosely so that the
air may reach the kernels after they
sprout. The moistcncd cloth will also
hold Kernels in place while the strip
is being rolled
1T is well To use a small, irregular
shaped piece Of wood or other solid ma
tcrinl core for the roll, so as to
secure more uniform termination.
After the roll is made. tie string
loosely around the middle. or better
stiil. use rubbed band. and number
this roll No. l. Proceed with another
strip Of cloth in tn. same way. AS
many rolls may he made as necessary
To test all the seed corn From twenty
I" tifty ears can lac tested in each roll.
but roll made To test about thirty
ears Is more convenient to handle.
after the desired number Of rolls
have been made. place them in a
ccpincl. containing sufficient amount
of wafer 10 cover them. Allow them to
remain here for about ten hours: then
pour the water of. wrap the rolls in n
moist coarse Eunny sack tburlap) and
place on end in Il bucket or convenient
size b"X. Turn the box or buckle; up
side down over the rolls and lift in
about an inch for ventilation. The
bucket may bc left upright provided
IL is sufficiently covered over with n
moist runny sack I" prevent excessive
drying y; tho end of 1--WE days the
test is ready 10 he read.
"tnroll each roll in front Of the ears
which IL represents and examine the
kernels carefully. In cases whore all
six kernels fail to g"rminatc strong,
the car from which they were taken
should lie discarded unless seed corn
is particularly scarce"