The Brinkley argus., 1918-08-16
y5.RN,ahTIu;a TEoT. MADE IF SEED ClRh
TWO-Tt,IRDS OF SAMPLES TEST ED oe,C,. y5 FER CENT OR
 BETTER.
By L. W. Osborn, Agricultural Exper-

I5y L W. OSDCJn, ASIlClil.ural tXpCF-
 imont S-,tica, U. Of A. Fay ettevilla.
 GernmatiCn tests made Of Arkansas seed corn indicate that the seed situa- on in th.s state is much more favor able than in Northern corn-belt states
 ests Were made by the Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of Arkansas under the direction of Mir. L. w Osborn with over one hun dred samples sent in by county agents and farmers fDom about 40 counties ot the state. While the percentage Of germination of these samples varies from 56 to d00 per cent, the average of all samples sent in was 94 per cent. Two-thirds of the samples sent in test ed 95 per cent or better, S8 per cent of the samples tested 90 per cent or l better, six per cent ranged between 30 and 90 per cent and five per cent below 80 per cent.
 >eThere is danger that late planted corn, and corn in general which ma tured late, may have an impaired ger imitation due to the fact that the early freeze of last fall may have caught the. crop before it was fully matured or when it was full of moisture,' says MT. Osborn. "In Arkansas, corn planted at the usual time in early spring natures in August or Septem- Der, and ordinarily is well dried out before severe freezes take place. We'll dried mature corn will withstand very low temperatures without seriously af- 1 fecting the vitality. Of course, there is always the danger that even com pletely dried corn may absorb moist ure if exposed during damp weather in winter and that subsequent freezes may lower its vitality. Corn which 1 has been stored when thoroughly dry l in a fairly close crib will usually re. 1 tain it's vitality and make dependable seed. Corn stored damp is likely to have it's germination lowered.
 Test Corn To Be Sure of Quality 1 Ordinarily very little attention IS given to testing seed corn in this state The extreme cold of the past winter, however, is sufficient reason to l justify making tests to determine the quality of the seed to be planted. A good index of the ability of seed corr to germinate may be obtained by the following method: Choose 100 ears a' random and remove three kernels from each at different parts of tho ear, as the butt, tip and middle. Ml' the kernels to make a composite sam pie.
 How To Make Germinator.
 "A good germinatoI is made by us I ing two pie tins or dinner plates. Fiji one with sand, sawdust, or soil. Place d clean cloth on this and spread the kernels out to be germinated. Place a second cloth over the seeds ant wet down. Then invert the second pic tin or dinner plate over the first SC as to make a moist chamber within Keep moist in warm place.
 Six days is sufficient time to al low for germination. Seed germinatinl 70 to 93 per cent may be considered fair, 94-97 good, and 9S-100 excellent Because of the shortage of farm labol : it is of greatest importance that sect having a high germination, 95 pc cent be used to avoid the neceSsit, of thick planting and subsequent thin ning. With seed germinating 90 pc cent or less, il would seem best eithe to make an Individual ear test or t' obtain new seed having higher ger imitation"