THE RAG-DOLL TESTER 65 



growers now recommend and practice the testing of each 

 ear of corn as to its germinating power, before it is shelled, 

 and, if it does not germinate strongly, it is discarded. There 

 are numerous ways of making this test, which are all good. 

 To make the test, some method of numbering each indi- 

 vidual ear must be used. There are several different ways 

 of numbering the ears, among which are the following: 



(1) The ears may be placed on a seed-corn tree (Figure 42) 

 and a number placed on the tree near each one of the nails. 



(2) If the corn is hung up by the double-string method (Fig- 

 ure 43), the ears may be numbered without taking them out 

 of the strings by numbering one string 1, the next string 11, 

 the next 21, and so on, assuming that there are ten ears in 

 each string and that the ears in the string are counted from 

 1 to 10. If there are 13 ears in each string, for example, 

 the second string is marked 14, the third 27, and so on. (3) 

 Another method of numbering is to lay the ears side by side 

 on a plank and drive a tenpenny nail between each two ears. 

 In this way each ear of corn will be separated from the next 

 by a nail, and the number may be written just beneath each 

 ear with a piece of lead or pencil. 



76. The Rag-Doll Tester. Probably the simplest method 

 of testing seed corn is with what is known as the rag-doll 

 tester. To make this tester, take a strip of bleached muslin 

 about 16 inches wide and from 3 to 5 feet long. Begin 6 

 inches from one end and mark it off in 4-inch spaces; then 

 draw a line lengthwise through the center of the strip, divid- 

 ing each of these spaces in two. Now number the first two 

 4-inch spaces 1 and 2, the next two 3 and 4, and so on to the 

 end. Moisten the muslin and lay it flat on the table. 



77. Making the Test. Take 6 kernels from ear 1 and 

 place them in space 1 with all the tips pointing to one side; 

 then take 6 kernels from ear 2 and place them in space 2, 

 and so on. As long a strip of muslin may be used as can be 

 conveniently rolled. The spaces may be made slightly 



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