Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1918 — THE NEIGHBORHOOD CORNER [ARTICLE]

THE NEIGHBORHOOD CORNER

A DEPARTMENT OF FARM WELFARE CONDUCTED BY CO. AGENT LEANING. Testing Every Ear Of Seed Cora. “Test every ear of seed corn” is the slogan of the entire force of workers of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Careful observers report that not over one half of the seed saved and stored under the best conditions will grow. “One of the cheapest as well as most convenient and accurate methods of testing seed corn is known as the “Rag Doll” method. For this test buy a few yards of sheeting of good quality and tear it into strips 8 inches wide and from 3 to 5 feet long. It is planned to use, the strips a number of times hem the edges, as otherwise the ravelings sometimes disarange the kernel in unrolling. Down the middle of each doth strip, lengthwise draw a line with a heavy pencil. Then draw cross lines at right angels to the first'to divide the strips into squares about 8 indies wide, wet some of the strips thoroughly and stretch it out jn front of the ears to be tested. Take 6 kernels from ear No. 1, as was described in the Sawdust test, and place in square No. 1; take 6 kernels from ear No. 2 and place in square No. 2 and so on. When the cloth has been filled, begin at either end and roll the cloth up, if it is well moistened the kernels will not push out of place. When the cloth has been rolled, tie a string around each end rather looeely, or better still,, use a rubber band. Number this roll No. 1.

Then proceed with roll No. 2 in the same way. As many rolls may* be used as are necessary to contain which one has to test. From 80 to 50 ears can be tested in each roll After the rolls. have been filled they should be placed in a bucket or tub of water, where they may remain from .02 to .18, depending upon the preference of the operator. At the end of this time pour off the water and turn the bucket or tub upside down over the rolls, or Use- a common dry goods box for tins purpose. A couple of small pieces of wood should be laid under the rolls and one edge of the pail should be lifted from H to 1 inch in order to give ventilation. At the end of five days the kernels should be ready. , Depending upon the -arrangement of the ears, select first, either roll No. lor the last roll filled. This cloth will be unrolled in front of the ears represented. Examine all kernels carefully, as in sawdust test. In all cases in which all 6 kernels are not strong in germination the ear should be thrown away. This method is simple and inexpensive, and the seed corn situation is so serious that no farmer can afford to plant seed that has not carefully tested.