FIFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART 



49^ 



may be used. Fill the box about half full of moist sand, dirt, or sawdust, 

 well pressed down, so that it will leave a smooth, even surface. In case 

 saw dust is used it should be put in a gunny sack and set in a tub of warm 

 water for half an hour so that it will be thoroughly moistened before using. 

 Take a white cloth about the size of the box, rule it ofif, checker-board 

 fashion, one and a half inches each way. Number the checks 1, 2, 3, and 

 so on and place it over the sawdust and tack to the box at the corners and 

 edges. Lay out the ears to be tested, side by side on the floor; remove one 

 kernel from near the butt, middle and tip of the ear; turn the ear over and 

 remove three kernels from the opposite side, in like manner, making six 

 kernels in all, thus securing a sample from the entire ear. Place the six 

 kernels at the end of the ear from which they were taken. Use care that the 

 kernels do not get mixed with the kernels from the ear next to it. After the 

 kernels are removed, boards may be laid over the rows of corn to keep them 

 in place until the germination is known. (See Figure 1.) Place the kernels 

 from ear of corn No. 1 in square No. 1 of the germination box; from 

 ear No. 2 in square No. 2, and so on with all of the ears. Then place over 

 this a cloth considerably larger than the box; cover with about two inches 

 of moist sand, dirt or sawdust and keep it in a warm place where it will 

 not freeze. The sitting-room will perhaps be the most suitable place. The 

 kernels will germinate in four to six days. Then remove the cover carefully 

 to avoid misplacing the kernels in the squares (a piece of thin cloth placed 

 over the kernels before the covering is put on, will prevent the kernels from 



Fig. 1. GtERRMIN'ATION Box. 



