TO TEST THE VITALITY OF SEED CORN 



55 



Commencing with ear No. 1, remove six kernels, two near 

 the butt on opposite sides, two near the middle and two near 

 the tip. Place the six kernels in 'regular order, germ side 

 up, in the germinator in Square No. 1 and proceed with Ear 

 No. 2 in the same manner, placing the kernels from it in 

 Square No. 2. Repeat this process until all of the ears have 

 been sampled. 



After the grains are all in place cover the surface of the 

 sand with a square of muslin and add sand until the box is 

 level full. Moisten the sand thoroughly and keep it wet 

 throughout the exercise. 



The germinator should be kept at a temperature of 70° to 

 80° F., during the day, but at night it may fall to 50° or 60° 

 without harm. At the end of five or six days the cloth should 

 be carefully rolled back in order to expose the squares for 

 inspection. Count the grains that have germinated in each 

 square and record the numbers in the following diagram: 



After careful examination, discard the ears whose num- 

 bers correspond to the square in which the grains did not 

 grow or where germination was weak and unsatisfactory. 



