The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-02-27

Hancock county being located in
the center of the corn belt, and haV-
ing some of the most progressive ana
uptodate farmers in the state, has
been chosen as one Of the counties for
the selection Of seed corn for the COM
ing year.
County Agent Lloyd was in Chicago
the past week, where he met the state
seed corn administrator of Illinois,
w. G. Eckhardt, who was appointed
by the state council Of defense and
there learned that the seed corn ad-
ministrator Is depending on the farm
ers of Hancock county to furnish sew
eral thousand bushels Of seed corn
for use in the northern part Of our
state.
Farm Advisor Lloyd, chairman Of
the food production and conservation
committee OF our county, will nave
charge OF the campaign, and next
week will be prepared to contract for
early and medium early corn that will
measure up to the requirements in
vitality. The price to be paid for seed
corn tipped, butted. shelled, bagged
and delivered at the storeroom will
be: 20 to 70 per cent termination at
$3.50 per bushel; 80 to 80 per cent
termination at $3.50; 80 to 100 per
cent termination at $3.50. These
prices are high, and will pay anyone
for the necessary work required to
get out good seed. Only a limited
amount Of the 70 to 70 per cent seed
can be accepted and that will be OF
early varieties.
The first step to be taken in deter
mining the value Of ones corn for
seed is to make a careful termination
test. A sufficient number Of ears
should be selected to accurately rep
resent the actual conditions of the
bulk of the corn, then take several
kernels from different parts of each
of these ears and put them on germin-
alton test in rag doll, sand box, dirt
box, sawdust box or other tester, be-
ing careful to maintain the right
amount of moisture and a temperature
around 70 degrees. From the results
obtained from this test the per cent
of termination can be determined.
Thus. II 100 kernels are in the test
and ninety start strong stem and root
sprouts, that means 90 per cent ger
mination- Both the stem and root
sprouts should be strongly developed
before they are counted.
Rag dolls for testing corn can be
bought from the state corn admins
traitor in lots of 25, 80 and 100 at IA
cents each. These dolls are made of
good cloth, printed with squares for
the kernels and with full directions
for use. Mr.. Lloyd will also accept
orders for the dolls.
The storerooms for the delivery OF
this select corn will be located at sew
eral different places in the county, as
necessity demands.
| The price paid by the state will be
determined on the basis of a germin-
alton test made by the University of
Illinois from a composite sample TAX
en- from different places in the bags
OF corn as they are delivered The
results of these tests will be imned
lately reported TO the university to
the office of the state seed corn admin
istrator and a draft at the prices
above mentioned will Immediately be
sent as payment for the corn. Corn
which does not test above 70 per cent
will be rejected and only limited
amount Of so per cent corn will be &C
lcepted and that must be of early va
Irieties. These details will all be out
lined in, the contracts which Mr.. Lloyd
will write next week, and anyone hav-
ing corn which he wishes to sell for
seed should get in touch with him i'm
mediately.
The selling price of all corn pur-
chased by The seed corn administrat-
or will be an advance of S1.5O per
Ebushel on price paid That means
the 80 to 100 per cent grade will be
sold at $40 per bushel. This margin
is to cover the expenses of operating,
Transportation and securing a reserve
of seed for replantins, If bad weather
makes that necessary. Every dollar
not required to run the business Will
be returned to the purchaser pro rata:
It is the plan to send practically all
OF the early maturing corn into the
northern counties Of our state, While
the later maturing varieties Will De
used in the central Illinois counties.
| Anyone in Hancock county, wish
ing to buy seed from the state can
Mace their order with Mr. Lloyd, or
WITH tho seed corn administrator, 100
W Adams street, Chicago. None Of
tho best class Of the later maturing
corn will be shipped out Of the coun-
tv. until the demands Of our local peo-
ple have been supplied.
The Red Cross officials chose the
nroper time and day for their auction
sale as Saturday afternoon was ideal,
and a large crowd present at the auc-
tion. there having been many dona-
lions for the sale, and all in charge
were ready at 2 p. m. for the opening.
| The first donation made, fine
white Plymouth Rock cockerel, given
bv Mrs. Mary Eckmeier, of East Car
thage, was placed on the block, and
purchased by Chas. Martin of this
CITY, for STA. Mr. Martin then re-
turned the cockerel to the auctioneer,
Col Fred Johnson, who proceeded to
offer it the second time, when it was
bid in by o. F. Berry chairman of the
Hancock county chapter, for SO. and
will he turned over to the branch