EXERCISES 56 AND 57 

 GERMINATION TEST OF SEED CORN 



Object. To test the vitality of seed corn. 



Explanation. If the field of corn examined in Exercise 2 

 shows a poor stand, the largest possible yield was not 

 secured. A poor stand of corn may be due to a poorly 

 prepared seed bed, but is very often due to the low vitality 

 of the seed corn. Early in the winter corn usually contains 

 an abnormally high per cent of moisture. If a severe freeze 

 occurs while it is in this condition, the vitality is likely to be 

 impaired or destroyed. If seed corn contains a high per 

 cent of moisture at husking time, it should be properly 

 dried out to keep it from molding, and placed under shelter 

 to keep if from freezing. 



A man experienced in corn selection may be able to deter- 

 mine with some accuracy by inspection whether or not corn 

 will grow. But often an ear that will not grow has no out- 

 ward indication of reduced vitality. It is impossible to 

 determine definitely which ears of corn will not grow without 

 making a germination test. 



Equipment. 1. One hundred ears of corn. 



2. A germination tester or box as shown in Fig. 14. 



3. Sand. 



Directions. Lay the ears of corn that are to be tested 

 in a long row, side by side, where they will be undisturbed 



213 



