No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 309 



strong at the tip giving room for a large germ which is essential 

 to strong vitality and high feeding value. The edges of the kernel 

 should be nearly straight but sufficiently convergent to allow the 

 rows to fit closely together and should be 5-16 of an inch in width, 

 f of an inch long and about | of an inch in thickness. 



Preservation of Seed Corn. 



Much seed corn is injured by improper methods of drying and 

 storing, especially during the first month or six weeks after husking, 

 at which time it contains 25 per cent, or more of moisture in the 

 kernel and cob. It should, therefore, be hung up or placed onracks 

 made of narrow strips with spaces between for air to pass in, a dry 

 and well ventilated place. If this is not done its vitality is almost 

 sure to be injured by moulding, fermenting, germinating or freezing. 

 Seed corn should always be stored in the ear and never be kept in 

 boxes, barrels or sacks. Natural drying, if there is time, is always 

 safest. After this selection is made during the winter or at least 

 six weeks before planting, a final selection should be made. This 

 can best be done by selecting a single ear representing the type 

 wanted with regard to shape of ear and character of ear and char- 

 acter of kernel. With this ear in hand, compare all the rest and 

 select a sufficient number of ears most closely representative of the 

 type desired. 



Testing the Germinating Vitality of Each Ear. 



Many a field of corn on account of imperfect germination has to 

 be replanted or is patched up by planting odd hills, which is usually 

 labor thrown away, there being insufficient pollen to properly fer- 

 tilize the late silks, or a poor stand is allowed to remain and largely 

 reduce the yield per acre; therefore, on a well conducted farm the 

 germinating vitality of every ear intended for planting is tested. 

 This can be done in a number of ways. One of the easiest and one 

 that insures natural conditions can be done by making a box 2, 3 or 

 4 feet square and 2 or 3 inches deep, fill it with sand or soil and line 

 it in blocks 1£ inches each way and keep moist and at 70 F. Take 

 (i grains from each ear — one from the butt, middle and near the tip 

 of the ear, turn the ear and take three more grains similarly, place 

 them in square No. 1 and label the ear No. 1; do the same with 

 another ear and label it ear No. 2, and so on until the box is filled 

 or as many ears as are needed for planting. In four or five days 

 the germination will be complete. Sawdust can be used in the same 

 way. Suppose of the six grains in square No. 1 only four produce 

 sprouts, which means a germination of 66 2-3 per cent., suppose in 

 square No. 2 one of the grains produce only a germ for the stem and 



