132 AGRICULTURE FOR COMMON SCHOOLS 



be examined for weed seeds and mixtures. Then a number 

 of seeds should be put to germinate on a plate between blot- 

 ting papers or folds of cloth with another plate covering the 

 top. They should be kept moist and in a temperature of 

 about 70° F. In four days it can be told what seeds will grow. 

 The same plan can be used for wheat and oats, but for corn 

 a larger tester, like that on page 76, should be used. For 

 a method of testing corn see page 76. 



The Seed Plat. — By the seed plat is meant a small piece of 

 ground on which the farmer plants extra good seed to get seed 

 for his next year's crop. This is used mostly for seed corn, 

 but should be used for all the farm crops. Many farmers now 

 select choice ears of corn and plant them on a separate 

 plat of ground to which extra care is given. The seed corn 

 for the next crop is then picked from this plat. Such seed 

 gives better yields than seed selected from the general crop. 

 Wheat and oats would produce better if farmers were to sow 

 a half acre or more with choice seed each year and use the 

 resulting crop for sowing the next main crop. , 



