148 THE ESSENTIALS OF AGRICULTURE 



which gave perfect germination, the stand was decreased 10.8 per 

 cent and the yield 6.2 bushels per acre. With seed showing 

 100 per cent germination but with I kernel out of every 6 

 tested showing weak germination, the stand was decreased 6 per 

 cent and the yield 3.4 bushels per acre as compared with the 

 results obtained from using seed that germinated completely 

 and strongly. 



183. Grading seed corn. It is important to have the kernels 

 as uniform in size and shape as possible so that the planter will 



FIG. 69. A sand-box seed tester 



drop them evenly. This is readily accomplished by running the 

 corn through a corn grader or sorter. In shelling seed ears the 

 butt and tip kernels should be discarded not because they will 

 not produce good ears, but because these kernels are so irregu- 

 lar in size and shape that they cannot be planted successfully 

 by machinery. 



184. Methods of planting. Corn is planted either on the 

 surface in rows, or in the bottom of a shallow furrow opened 

 with a disk attachment on the planter, or in the bottom of a 

 deep furrow opened with a lister. Surface planting is the 

 common method in most of the corn-growing regions. Listing 



