54 ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE 



At the Nebraska station, where equal weights of wheat 

 were used for eight years, the light seeds gave practically 

 the same yield as the heavy. Similar results were obtained 

 in Ohio and Kansas. 



An ordinary fanning-mill is of use in removing weed 

 seeds, and to some extent in removing the lightest seeds. 

 It does not usually remove the moderately light ones. 

 Probably the removal of the weed seeds is the most valu- 

 able result. 



53. Seed Testing Is Plant Selection. All seed selection, 

 whether it be for germination or size and weight of seeds, 

 is really plant selection. The seed is a plant. Its size and 

 the vigor of its germination are some of the first evidences 

 of its individual characteristics. Seed selection is one step 

 in plant-breeding. 



54. Storage of Seed. We must always remember that 

 seeds are alive. It is true that they are dormant, and can 

 stand some adverse conditions, but they are not immune 

 from injury. One of the chief causes for the poor germi- 

 nation of Kentucky blue grass seed is the heating during 

 the curing process. Any seed that smells musty needs to 

 be tested before being accepted. 



Seed corn is not hurt by freezing when it is very dry, 

 but in many parts of the United States it will absorb 

 enough water from the atmosphere so that freezing will 

 damage it. Except in dry regions, the seed corn should 

 be stored in a warm room. A good method of storing is 

 to tie up with binder twine (Fig. 36) and hang in the 

 attic. If there is danger of a frost before the corn is thor- 

 oughly dry in the fall, the seed corn should be husked 

 and hung up in a dry room before freezing weather. 



