Connecticut western news., 1918-04-25
Complete Directions for Test Pre-
pared by Seed Corn
Committee.
LITTLE EXPENSE AND
SHORT TIME REQUIRED
Only Thirty Per Cent. of Seed Corn 10
Estimated as Good-Many Farmers
Not Aware of Danger In Trusting to
Good Luck-Experimen Station at
New Haven Makes Important Dis
coverIes for Corn Producers.
April 8, 1918.

April 8, 1918.
There is trouble ahead for some or
the men in Connecticut who are plant
ing INFESTED seed corn or who expect
to plant seed which has not been tried
out and Its terminating qualities de-
termined. The New Haven experiment
station, which has run several nun
dred tests for farmers of Connecticut |
has found that large quantities OF seed
are absolutely unfit to plant.
One-third of the corn held in TINS
state for seed will not produce a stand
worth saving, another third will pro-
duce only a very unsatisfactory stand,
while about 80 per cent. is good SEED.
In spite of the state wide educational
campaign which has been conducted
by the Committee of Food Supply, Con-
necticut State Council of Defense ana
the Connecticut Agricultural College
there are a great number of men who
are not alive to the condition and are
planting their corn, trusting to good
luck for a stand.
A test can be run in a very short
time and at q very little expense by
following the directions put out from
the. Committee of Food Supply, ana,
although the season is rather well al
vanced, there is still time to test TINS
gears supply of seed.
The directions for testing individual
ears by the Rag Doll'' method, pre-
pared by the seed corn department OF
the Committee of Food Supply, is as
follows:
Cut a strip of canton flannel or UNI
bleached cotton foot wide and three
to five feet long. Beginning five
inches from the end, rule with pen
Gil two rows of three and one-halt
inch squares through the middle OF
the strip, leaving the outer edges of
the squares two and one-half inches
from the edges of the cloth. Number
the squares in regular order.
Number the ears to be tested or la!
in order where they will not be dis
turbed. Take six kernels from eacl
ear 1.-TWO from the butt, two from thu
middle and two near the tip). Wrin:
the cloth out of warm water and lay
1t fiat on a table. Spread the six ker
nels from ear No. / on square l, ant
so on until the squares are filled. Fol'
the side flaps over the squares, roi
, the strip together from one end rathe
loosely to admit air, using a piece o
wood three and one-half inches lon
for roller, and tie loosely with string
Soak in warm, not hot, water for
few hours, drain by laying it on stick
or cobs, wrap the rolls in damp coars
cloth and cover loosely in bcX o
pan. DO NOT LET THE SEED DR.
OUT. Keep at room temperature, neN
e err under 80 degrees or as high as 5
e degrees. After six days open the TO
l. carefully to avoid displacing any see
: and count and record those Kerne
n from each square which have stron
Ii healthy sprouts.
g Discard all ears which do not hay
IS at least five strong sprouts. Boil tn
e cloth before using again to kill a
e molds-
p Some may prefer the sand box met
cd, which was used this winter at II
Is corn shows. Get a box four or 81
Il inches deep, fiji 1t half full of sand I
,e sawdust and pack this in we'll. w
III thoroughly. A piece of white cloth cf
s. be cut TO fit into the box and marke
Is off into three inch squares, or sma
nails can be driven into the box on &
sides every three inches and strini
run between them to lay off the b'
f. into squares. Lay out the ears to
tested ON a shelf where they will n
M he disturbed or number each ear wi
~ q tag. Letter or number the squar
- i'm the box to correspond to the eal
- Take six kernels from each ear n
ou put them in the proper square in t
Oh box
nc If the cloth marked off in squares
n used. lay another cloth over the ke
20 nels: then cover this with one inch
90 sand or saw1ust. Sprinkle This Il
~ layer and pack If down. A15Ss el;
f, 20 ten days carefully draw bach {
cd c:ctA ond count the Eer1el- IN
"a, - o!1ta1 s+-ongly end f'a'7'6 Z
t--1,8 tae1 chow poor gerninst!on.
= 1<2ta.--Is eawAyst ID 49,, ->,~.-
overnight before putting i'll the box
1e pzire OF Its being thoroughly w
ltg ft is better IL use new sawdEst or sal
.nt for each test