The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-03-11
TEST Your SEEDCORN
Make Sure ola Good Stand

Clemson College.-This is the time
of the year to test seed corn for ger
mination. The Importance Of testing
seed corn cannot be over estimated,
for it means a good stand of corn and
good. stand of corn means good
yield of corn.
One Of the best and most reliable
ways of testing seed corn is with the
termination box. Any farmer can
make cheaply his own box. 1t may
be any size to suit the needs of the
individual. The sides should be made
Of 2x4 timbers; the bottom, of any
convenient material. A box the size
suggested here will test two hundred
ears at one time, enough seed to
plant about sixteen acres. 1t usually
requires about IL ears to plant an
acre.
1. Make g. box 4S inches long, %
inches wide, and 4 or inches deep.
2. Procure good piece of muslin
one inch larger each way than the
box.
8. Mark this muslin with heavy
lines into squares inches. Leave
margin of inches between the out
side row of squares and the edge Of
the cloth.
4. Begin at the left Of the upper
row of squares (top row firsD and
number the squares to the right.
The squares down the left hand side
will then be numbered 1, 81, Al, 81,
and 81.
S. Place 11a bushels Of sawdust or
old chaff in a sack and soak well in
warm water (at least two hours).
6. Drain and afterwards press sur
plus water out of sawdust.
7. Place about 2 inches Of sawdust
in the box and press firm and smooth
with brick.
8. Place marked muslin on this
sawdust and tack to box around edge.
9. Prepare another piece of mus
lin 2 inches shorter each way than
the one marked.
10, Secure another piece Of any
coarse, strong cloth twice as long
each way as one mentioned in 9.
The Corn.
II. Number the ears Of corn to
be tested from i to 200. Use tag in
butt of ear fastened by pin or shingle
mail. Preserve the identity of the ear
until the test is complete.
12. Remove 6 kernels from each
ear as follows; two about II inches
from the butt ofear; two about mid
die; two about inches from tip.
13. Place the kernels from ear No:
in square No. L.; frern' ear No. in
square No. q, Etc, putting germ side
of kernels UP and tips. all pointing
toward rows Ct squares with lower
numbers.
IA. Wet, small sheets of muslin, as
made in No. 9, and'place over kernels
to hold in place.
IS. Place large sheet Of cloth as
made in No. 10 over this.
16. Put about inches Of wet saw
dust on this, press firm, and fold edges
of cloth over to cover saWdust.
e II. Keep from freezing. II kept
warm, sprouts should be long enough
in 7 or days.
1S. Open by rolling the cloth con-
tanning the sawdust; then taking off
the loose cloth carefully, not disturb.
ing the kernels.
Reading the Test. ------
10. Do not read until sprouts are
at least inches long.
20. If all the six kernels grow well,
the ear is considered "strong.".
81. If the sprouts are weak, call
that a weak" ear.
%. If two or more kernels do not
grow, call it "bad" ear.
%. All but strong ears should be
rejected for seed. Have all sawdust
and cloth thoroughly wet. If warm
water is used, it will promote early
growth. If sawdust and cloths are
to be used repeatedly, thoroughly
sca1d to DESTROY mold.