1306 Rural School Leaflet 



will not be (listurl)C(l. In order to avoid mistakes it is well to number 

 every ear. This can be done by writing the number on a little pieee 

 of thin cardboard and inserting it between the rows of kernels; or the 

 number may be written on a piece of paper, and this paper fastened to 

 the ear by pushing a pin through it into the butt of the cob, or it may be 

 held by a rubber band put around the ear. If there is no possibility that 

 the position of the ears will ])e disturbed, this precaution may not be 

 necessary. 



At the time of starting the germination test each ear should be care- 

 fully studied, and a few notes made covering the following points: (i) 

 Is the appearance of the corn bright or dull? (2) Are there any dis- 

 colored areas on the backs or the tips of the grain kernels? (3) Are the 

 tips of the kernels pointed or plump ? (4) Is the general texture of the grain 

 hard or soft? (5) Is the covering of the germ smooth or blistered? (6) 

 Is the texture of the germ soft, medium, or dry? (7) Is there an air 

 space around the plmnulc? If present, is the air space large or small? 

 (8) Is the color of the germ the normal cream- white, or is it yellowish 

 or dark"" 



At the end of the germination test when the results are being deter- 

 mined these records of each ear should be considered in connection 

 with the germinating power of the ear. It will soon be found that there 

 is a distinct correlation between the general appearance of the ear of 

 corn and its germinating power, and it is important that one should 

 become skilled, as far as possible, in determining the germinating power 

 from the appearance of the ears. This will naturally reduce the number 

 of ears that it is necessary to test for germination because there will be 

 fewer eliminated by the germination test. 



Six kernels should be removed from each ear with a pocket knife. One 

 kernel should be taken from near the tip, one from the middle, and one 

 from the butt, on each side of the ear. These six kernels should be care- 

 fully laid in the square in the box corresponding to the number of the 

 ear. Thus six kernels from ear no. i will go into square nf). i, and six 

 kernels from ear no. 2 into square no. 2, and so on. It is best to place 

 the kernels all pointing one way and with the germ side up. 



After the squares in the box are filled with kernels from as many cor- 

 respondingly niunbered ears, a piece of thin cloth should be placed over 

 them, care being taken not to disarrange or change the position of the 

 kernels. This cloth should be gently sprinkled with water, and on top 

 of it two thoroughly wet burlap bags should be laid and pressed down 

 closely at the corners and along the sides of the box in order to keep all 

 the kernels unifonnly moist. The box should be placed near a stove, 

 where it is warm and where the temperature never goes below freezing. 



