The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1922-03-16

thorough rinsing of the cloths be-
fore using them.
"The doll cloths must be thor
oughly sterilided by boiling water
before each test. An ordinary
wash boiler serves well to sterilize
then. In case cleansing them with
soap becomes necessary, they should
be thoroughly rinsed before using.
They are then ready for making the
test.
"The first step in preparing the
dolls is to lay out on a clean sur
face of newspapers the strip of the
insulating paper. The best paper
has been found to be 70-pound
pear .water-fnish fibre paper. 1t is
a standard grade of paper and can
be purchased in '2-inch rolls through
any book store or printer. A clean
strip must be used for the test. The
paper should be at least from eight
to ten inches longer than the cloths.
The cloth is then placed on the f.
bre paper preparatory to placing the
kernels. Care must be taken not to
roll the dolls too tightly or too
loosely.
"After the dolls are made they are
placed in double walled box. The
germinator box consists of an outer
and inner box with sawdust and
limestone between them, and cross
rods to separate the dolls during the
test.
"The inner box is 2 by "a inches
and Is inches deep, inside dimen-
sions. The outer box can be of any
size, but should allow at least g.
inch space for the sawdust between
it and the inner box.
"The walls of the inner box should
be perforated to permit damp air
from the sawdust to gain access to
the inside of it. The cross rods
should be fitted inside the smaller
box at 3-inch intervals and about 8
inches from the top.
ga box of this size provides room
for 80 dolls which gives it a capac-
ity for testing $40 seed ears. A g.
inch layer of sawdust or shavings
mixed with approximately one
fourth of it's weight of agricultural
limestone or air slaked lime should
be placed in the bottom of the in
ler box under the dolls during the
sest. Do not use caustic lime for this
"The bottom of the outer box
should be perforated to allow excess
water to drain through it. The ger
ninator box should be placed on
strips of wood to facilitate rapid
drainage. At no time should the
,awdust be permitted to become
sour. Adequate limestone will pre-
rent any sourness from developing. |
"The dolls are placed in the box
n a vertical position. They are
'prinkled twice daily with luke |
warm water. 1t is not necessary
o immense the dolls in water at any
ime during the test. The bags COW
ring the box also are kept moist
is well as the sawdust around the
nner box.
"a temperature of approximately
70 degrees Fahrenheit should be
in the inner box during
he test. The box should, therefore,
e kept in warm place. Satisfac-
DRY results have been obtained by
thoroughly saturating the sawdust
round the inner box with boiling hot
7ater twice daily. If this is done,
xtra precautions are necessary to
revent wetting any of the dolls
nth the hot water because this
yould kill the young seedlings and
revent the proper Interpretation of
be results" j
The kernels should be left in the
ermination test for 10 days or until
he sprouts have a chance to grow
onr or five inches long. This is i'm
ortant just now because should a
ernel be diseased, the diseases may
OF manifest themselves if the kerr
Ell is left in the termination box on
! a week. II
On opening the rag dolls examine ,
he sprouts and roots of the germi-
ated kernels carefully. If any of
he kernels show mold or any Of
lie sprouts or roots are discolored
! any way, the safest plan is to dis
ard the ears. II does not pay to
Ike chances. II is better TO throw I
at a healthy ear than to plant
seased one. ID
If every corn grower win rotate
- 1880 kn.4 L.. .onI 49,. IL