38 AGRICULTURE 



TOPICS FOR INVESTIGATION 



Let the class join in making a germination box for the 

 school as described in the text. Sawdust may be obtained 

 from wood-piles, icehouses, or meat markets. 



1. Each pupil will bring to school enough ears of seed 

 corn so that the class will have one hundred ears for testing. 



2. Arrange the ears as directed, numbering them from 

 one to one hundred. Take six kernels from each ear and 

 place them in the box. Make arrangements to keep the box 

 reasonably warm. The "rag-doll" tester may be used by 

 some of the class. Compare results from the two forms of , 

 tester. 



3. At the end of a week uncover the box and read the 

 test. How many ears had one kernel that did not grow? 

 Two kernels? Three kernels? Four kernels? Five ker- 

 nels? Six kernels? 



4. What would have been the percentage of stand if 

 all the ears had been planted, and the germination in the 

 field been equal to that of the box? It is estimated that to 

 hire the labor for testing will cost about sixteen cents an 

 acre. Would this pay? Compare this report with your 

 record from counting stand on page six. 



5. How many ears will grow, but produce plants so 

 weak that they will probably be barren or produce nubbins ? 

 How many of the one hundred ears should be discarded as 

 seed? 



6. Tell your father about this test, and join with him 

 in testing the home seed for the next crop. 



10. Preparing Seed Corn for the Planter 



After testing the seed, the next step is to grade it for 

 the planter. This means to divide the seed corn into lots 

 according to the size of the kernels. It is impossible to 

 secure a regular drop with the planter unless the kernels 

 are of fairly uniform size. And no matter how good the 

 seed, if one hill receives two kernels and the next four or 

 five, the stand will be irregular and the crop reduced. 



