24 The Bulletin. 



THE GEKMIlSrATION TEST. 



All that has been said before this has been concerning the characteris- 

 tics of corn that can be discerned by the eye. And, if what has been said 

 helps any one in his selection of corn for seed and exhibition, I will 

 have obtained my object in writing Avhat I have. 



There is one other form of selection, and it is, for those selecting for 

 seed only, the most important. This is the germination test or selec- 

 tion. By this test every farmer is able to tell very accurately the value 

 of his com as a seed corn. If it is a com of good vigorous germinating 

 powers, a corn that is able to start off a plant with vigor and to impart 

 to it those qualities most desired, this test will tell him. If his corn is 

 low in vitality, and lacking in those qualities he most desires in it, this 

 test will tell him. As to the ease of making this test: it is the easiest 

 selection and requires less training than any of the others ; because it is 

 merely a mechanical operation. Simply stated, it is the sprouting of a 

 few representative kernels from each ear of the corn he has selected for 

 seed and from these, as a basis, calculating the per cent that will give 

 good, strong growth. 



The best method for the farmer to follow is to take a box, say 3 feet 

 by 2 feet by 4 inches, fill it up within one inch of the top with sawdust, 

 sand, or even loose dirt, and mark this off into squares two inches each 

 way; then number the ears and the squares and put six kernels from 

 different parts of each ear in the square corresponding in number to the 

 ear. After placing the kemels in the box he should cover with a square 

 of blotting paper or a piece of cloth with a little dirt over it, and keep it 

 moist and in a moderately warn room for a few days. At the end of 

 six or seven days he should take the covering off from the top and 

 examine each square to see what per cent of the kernels have germi- 

 nated. If any show" a weak germination he should discard the ear cor- 

 responding in number to the square. This is a very simple method of 

 testing the powers of the corn expected to be used for seed and should 

 be practiced by every farmer, for by so doing he is going to increase his 

 corn crop by several bushels per acre ; because it will greatly insure his 

 stand and will give a larger per cent of stalks that will produce good 

 yields. This test should be made early in the spring before the rush of 

 spring work comes on, but not until all danger from freezes is over. 

 If a germ is frozen it greatly weakens it, even though it is not killed. 



Farmers' Bulletin No. 229 can be obtained free of cost from the 

 United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C, and will 

 help every farmer very much in making this test. 



