EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 275 



college. It is 111/4x17^/2 inches inside measure, and is one inch deep. 

 It is made of galvanized iron. Notches are cut one and one-quarter 

 inches apart in the rim or flange. The germinator is filled with sand 

 or sandy soil, and stricken off with a straight edge, and then lightly 

 tapped to settle the sand. A string is then stretched as shown, mark- 

 ing one and one-quarter inch squares. This gives 126 squares. Five 

 or six such trays will hold the kernels from five to eight bushels of 

 corn. One tra}^ will hold the seed from seventy-eight pounds of ten- 

 ounce ears. 



Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate a germinator made by cutting down a soap 

 box gotten at a grocery store. Tacks or very small nails are driven into 

 the sides (not the edges) of sides and ends, one and one-quarter inches 

 jipait, to carry the string. 



Place the ears of seed corn in rows of fourteen ears each, either on 

 I'acks or elsewhere, i. e., as many ears as there are squares in one of 

 ilie long rows in the tray, numbering the rows of ears to correspond 

 with tlie rows of squares in the tray. Take each ear separately, re 

 move four kernels from as many different points on the ear, and set 

 them, small end down, and germ side in, in the square corresponding 

 to the ear. Press each kernel down till its' top is even with, or better, 

 just below tte' surface of the sand, as shown in Fig. 11. Each tray 

 provides for niiie roAvs of ears. 



Next, wet tht? sand in the germinator thoroughly, and leave in a 

 warm place, at room temperature, or slightly higher. See to it that 

 the sand is kept Avell moistened, but not saturated. 



Fig. 11 shows the corn in place. Fig. 12 sIioavs the corn germinated, 

 and Fig. 13 sIioavs tlie corn after some growth is made. It is only after 

 the corn has had an opportunity to groAv several days that one can 

 ])ass intelligently upon the vigor of the germinating . kernel. It is 

 not sufficient that a kernel of corn germinate. Discard all "ears whose 

 kernels do not all germinate vigoroKsJij, if you Avould hav&^a perfect 

 stand of vigorous plants. See Fig. IG. 



TIP AND BUTT KERNELS. 



Tip kernels should be removed far enough liack to insure free- 

 dom from molds which are likely to be found where the ends of the 

 husks have allowed moisture to enter before husking. Aside from this, 

 tip and butt kernels are objectionable only so far as their presence in- 

 terferes Avith an even stand, Avhere planting is done Avith a machine. 

 (Jrading, or screening the corn, insures an even stand wherei a planter 

 is used. 



Figs. 17 and 18 show the germination and groAvth of tips, middle and 

 butt kernels from the same ear, and this is in accord with a considerable 

 number of tests made by one of our college students some years since. 

 Not all breeds of corn give the same results. Occasionally the results 

 are rcA'ersed. 



THE SOIL. 



Well-manured, Avell-prepared cloA^er sod is the ideal i)lace for corn. 

 Timothy sod is objectionable in Michigan, for the reason, according to 

 Professor Pettit of the Experiment Station, that the timothy bulbs 



