Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 February 1911 — GARDEN SEED TESTING. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GARDEN SEED TESTING.

It Is Important, to Know Germinating V Qualities cf Stock. As a rule, Ameri g nay very little attention t< seep testing, depending mostly up*.u ;he seeds they buy as being strong and fresh. However, very often considerable quantities of seed are carried over from one season to another, and these r are of more value than any new supplies, because we have proved them by actual cropping on our land and under our conditions. Hence it is very important to know the germinating qualities of such stock to avoid losses or delays. There are several methods of seed testing in common use—placing seeds between layers of moist cloth, sowing In sand and sowing into ground. Each has its proper place and time. However, unless a test is carefully carried out it is worthless. Thus the operator must know the degree of heat and amount of moisture most suitable. The same treatment will not do for aIL We must try to get as near as possible at natural conditions. We must consider the season. Some seeds are very difficult to sprout in winter, and the nearer we approach their natural sprouting season the better the test, while others again refuse to sprout in great heat, such as the summer months. Thus we see a test made out of season may prove entirely worthless or, worse than that, very misleading. During the winter months the sand test is the best, as seeds sprout more readily in dean sand than in moist earth, and the sand gives enough root action to allow us to Judge of the strength of the young plants, which the moist cloth test does not permit The depth at which seeds should be tested must be decided upon according to season. Thus in the dark winter months very little covering is permissible, while later on more covering is needed to allow for higher temperatures and rapid evaporation.—Gardening.

Talk things over with the hired man. It will help both you and him.

Value Loss of Silage Small. One reason why cornfields should be turned into the silo is that dried fodder corn deteriorates rapidly and ward spring becomes hard, brittle and possesses little palatability. Silage loses much less than dry corn fodder and Is always relished by the animals, summer or winter. * Protecting Pipes From Frost. This diagram illustrates one way of protecting water pipes against frost In the cut a Is the pipe, b a partition through which the pipe runs, c the water tank, d the ground, f a wooden post and g an iron ring. In operation the post, which may be six to . eight

inches In diameter, is split in the middle, as shown at e. The center is hollowed out slightly in each half, and into this space the pipe fits. The iron ring at g holds the halves firmly together. This protection might and probably would in actual practice continue on through the wall of the building. It could be arranged for by setting the pipe at a greater angle American Agric ultr.rist.

Don’t let two xveeos gjbW iM year where none grew before.

Poultry Pointers. One-half teaspoonful of vaseline and ten drops of carbolic acid made into a soft paste with, sulphur and rubbed on the sores is said to be a sure cure for sorehead or chicken pox. Iron in some form makes a good tonic. What is, called “the Douglass mixture” is used by many poultrymen. It i? composed of sulphate of iron, eight ounces; sulphuric acid, one-half fluid ounce; water, one gallon. Dose, one gill in the drinking water for every twenty-five fowls. Convenient coops for marketing the chickens will pay not only in the satisfaction that they afford, but in the greater convenience. Nothing is gained in hardiness by letting the - chickens run out 1 in the rain, snow cold winds. A thorough coating of wJjitewash with 3 per cent crude carbolic acid will settle the mite problem for the winter. The cap sheaf of poultry culture is cleanliness. Cleanliness means that the poultry houses, yards and surroundings should be kept sanitary end fit for the fowls to live in. _. ; Warm milk is an excellen’ feed for chickens that are sick or off feed. In f&ct, milk is due of the very bust fet.23 for chickens of all kinds and at nil times. - >. -

METHOD OF PROTECTIOX.