The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1918-04-25
SEED CORN SITUATION MOST
SERIOUS IN MANY YEARS

Home grown flint seed corn situa.
ton is very serious. Several prcmis'
ing looking supplies Of corn that have
been tested. show very poor germia-
ating qualities, In some cases a
double planting of this corn would not
mean much more than 30 per cent
stand. With our natural short corn
season and with the need of growing
every kernel of grain possible, il is the
duty Of every man raising corn this
year, to be sure that his corn is tested
for terminating qualities before
planting The only way to be on safe
side is to test individual ears Test at
least so ears taken either from strings
or from corn saved from the bin, and
il these do not test 80 per cent or
better, all the seed that is intended for
planting should be tested.
The rag doll method and the saw
dust box method, either Of which is
easy to do and accurate, will probably
be the best way to test. In either
case the ears should be numbered and
six kernels taken from different parts
of the ear, placed under test, until
termination has had timeto be com
pleted. The rag doll method can cas-
lily be used as follows:
Chose a strip of old sheeting about
five feet long and one foot wide.
Mark off 20 squares two and one half
by four inches, which will leave 1Sl
inches on either end to roll up.
Method of testing: Choose only
good looking ears. Arrange them in
order or number them SO that they
cannot be mixed. Always number the
kernels before removing them. Mois-
ten the cloth by dipping in water. Re-
move six kernels from ear number one.
Place on check one. In like manner
take six kernels from ear number two,
etc. When all the squares on given
sheet have been filled, moisten the
kernels by sprinkling and roll up with
care in order that none of the kernels
will be misplaced, Tie piece Of
string around the roll just tight
enough to keep the corn in place,
Place the rolls containing the kerr
nels in any bucket or pail Of warm
water and leave from six to eight,
hours. Drain off the water Cover the
rolls with wet cloth, tie up in several
thicknesses Of newspaper In about !
two days i is best to remove the news /
papers and cloth, soaking the rolls
from five to ten minutes or until thor
oughly saturated Drain off the wat
er and roll up as before and let them
remain in fairly warm place with
even temperature for five days. At
the end Of seven days the corn that is
desirable for seed will have sprouted.
Unroll the cloth carefully so as not to
iiI5pldCt tIlt htIlClD. EhdHllIt lIt
kernels in each Of the squares, and
save for planting only those ears, the
kernels of which show strong and Wig
orous growth. Discard all poor germ
mating ears.
The sawdust box method is also an
as well as accurate way of
esting and can easily be done by al
most anyone. In this case, however,
10th marked off il squares, lay over
moist sawdust and then this covered
With damp cloths will make good CON
itions for the corn to gcrminate. In c
ither case the corn must not be al
owed to freeze and sufficient moisture
must be available.
A few hours time spent now will !
nean bushels Of corn next harvest.
We cannot afford to take any chance Y
n the second planting. Therefore be 0
repaired. ?