Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-03-07
SEED CORN SHORTAGE
THREATENS NEXT CROP
IN STATE or MISSOURI
Half Of Missouri Supply Tests LES
Than 50 Per Cent. Il State
College Report

COLUMBIA. No, Feb. 90. That
the seed corn shortage in Missouri Is
the greatest in recent years is shown
by surveys made by the University OF
Missouri College Of Agriculture The
seriousness Of the shortage, accord
ing to Investigators. becomes more
apparent daily as reports Of germina-
ton tests arc received. According to
present indications, at least half Of
the seed corr will not test above 20 per
cent. The greatest danger to the
coming crop is the fact that most Of
the corn looks good, which has led
many farmers to believe that Il is nor
NAL. However, when the real test Of
quality is applied, a surprisingly large
percentage Of this eorn has failed to
terminate. Farmers who depend on
the outward appearance Of the seed as
a test of quality this years will be de-
eeived, say the specialists here.
A report Of testing done in Marion
county under the direction Of the
County Agent, II. T. Nielsen, shows
the seriousness Of the situation and
also indicates how misleading the out
ward appearance of the corn can be.
OF 29S9 ears, which were apparently
of good quality, only 1927 gave strong
termination. If these 2939 ear Of
corn had been planted, without testing,
the stand would have been less than
S5 per cent or only a little more than
a third.
Figures from the Government Seed
Testing Laboratory show that only 6
per cent Of the samples Of seed corn
tested have terminated SO or over;
IL per cent have tested 30 to 90; EOS
per cent, 80 to 80; 23.2 per cent, 20 to
70. Almost one third or 1928 per cent
tested so to SO per cent, and z per
cent was below so per cent. From
these and other tests reported, ]. C,
Hackleman of the Agricultural Ex-
tension Service, estimates that half
the seed corr in Missouri will germin-
ate not more than so per cent.
The College Of Agriculture has re-
Gently issued Extension Circular 48,
How to Test Seed Corn, which gives
full directions for testing, together
with illustrations Of simple testers
that may be made at home. This pub
lication was prepared a few days ago,
especially to meet the present situa-
ton. Copies will be mailed free Of
charge, by writing to the College OF
Columbia, Mo. Bankers, merchants.
teachers, farmers, commercial Clubs
and others who are interested in com
munity seed corn testing may obtain
suggestions on organizing a commu-
nifty "testing CENTER by application Ia
the College,.
"The returns that may be expected
from testing seed corn, ever when the
quality is normal is illustrated by
contests conducted by the Missouri
State Corn Growers Association last
year." said Mr.. Hackleman. Careful
acre plot of each contestant. The av-
erage stand of corr on the plots where
the seed had been tested was 92.9 per
cent and the average yield was 71.33
bushels. Fields planted to INFESTED
seed gave an average stand Of 72.1 per
cent and an average yield of 1924
bushels per acre. In other words
those men who tested their seed made
a gain of 10 bushels over those who
trusted their own judgment and did
not test. If such results are possible
when seed corn is normal, then ever
greater relative results will be posi-
Bile this year when seed corn quality
is far below normal"