Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1918-02-15
Be SURE TO TEST
YOUR SEED CORN
County Agent Wall Tells How
To Find Out Whether The
Seed Will Grow After Hav-
Been Planted.

In recent issue Of this paper the
seriousness of the seed corn situn-
, tion was discussed, and it was urged
/ that every farmer either test his seed
corn or have it done. ! have just COM
pleted tests for ten different farmers
and of the ten only two showed ger
mination high enough for seed corn
andc one of thes was old corn. Now,
these ten samples were from diff
erent parts of the county and were
furnished by leading farmers, who
ordinaril produce better corn than the
average. These ten samples tested as
follows: 45, 33, 2, 35, 13, 2G, So, 81,
60, and 90 per cent. Good seed should
test over 90 per cent and ordinarily
l would not advise planting corn
testing less but this year l would
suggest that the requirements be low
cred to so per cent termination. 1t
must be remembered that test prop
crly conducted furnishes ideal condi-
tions and that termination under the
field conditions will not be as high.
am going to urge that every
farmer test or have his seed tested
and that he save all the good seed he
has for his own use and to let his
neighbors have IL he does not have
good seed he should find n ncighbor
who has it and secure supply at
once. Old corn from the 1916 crop
should be saved and tested rs we will
have to depend on it largely for seed
feel that in n time like this il is
the duty of every farmer to let his
neighbors have seed corn if he has
more than his own needs and at II
reasonable price. To say the least, a
man who would take advantage of
his neighbors and his country's con-
dition to profiteer on little seed
corn is not patriotic and should have
to go to the front with the fellows
who are giving their lives for their
country. 1t is quite true that corn
carefully selected and testing high is
worth more than soft corn and should
bring more but it seems to me that
in no case should it be sold for more
than $500 to $500. Corn with an
individual test for each ear is worth
more. do not wish to make prices
but to discourage anything tending
to decrease production. We must all
make sacrifices. | feel sure the farm
er is willing to do his part.
Now, wish to give brief outline
of the method of testing think best
adapted to farm conditions and that
is what is known as the "rag doll"
method. To make this test take S
or 6 grains from different parts of
each 20 to 80 ears, such as you ex-
pect to use for seed and put these
grains together If you have more
than one kind you wish to test make
sample of each in this way. Do not
mix your samples, however. Secure
2 absorbent cloths such as bath tow
els and with blue crayon mark one
of these off into 3-inch squares. You
can place 10 to 20 grains in each of
the squares. Number the squares if
necessary to distinguish the samples.
Spread the second cloth on top of this
and make a tight roll and tie with
strings. Sprinkle this with all warm
water; it will absorb and keep moist
for eight days at n temperature of so
to 70 degrees. Then open and count
the number of grains that have made
strong sprouts and divide by the
total number of grains tested. This
will give you the percentage of ger
mination. Remember that while this
is simple it is important that it be
done correctly. The three important
things are: to get fair sample, to
maintain the proper temperature and
to keep the proper moisture.
r. R. WALL,
County Agent.