380 FIELD AND GARDEN PRODUCTS 



strength of the solutions must be varied for the different kinds of 

 seeds to be treated. In the separation of barley, however, water can 

 be successfully used. 



A simple plan for separating seed barley by the specific gravity 

 method has been successfully used by the Office of Grain Investiga- 

 tions. The apparatus used consists of two tubs or half barrels with a 

 hole bored at the bottom of each and fitted with a pine plug. On 

 the inside of the tub fine wire netting is tacked over the hole to pre- 

 vent the loss of grain. Rope handles fitted in holes bored near the 

 top facilitate handling. One tub is set above the other. 



The method of procedure used in separating the grain is as fol- 

 lows: The upper tub is filled two-thirds full of water and the seed 

 barley poured in, enough space being left to allow thorough stirring. 

 The plump barley grains will sink to the bottom, while the light and 

 shriveled barley and many of the oat and weed seeds will float on 

 the surface when the grain is stirred. After stirring thoroughly, the 

 grain that floats should be carefully skimmed off. When the skim- 

 ming is completed, the plug should be pulled out and the water al- 

 lowed to drain into the tub beneath. The grain should then be 

 emptied from the upper tub upon a clean floor or a piece of canvas 

 and spread out thinly to dry. The tubs can then be reversed and the 

 operation repeated with another lot of grain. In order to dry the 

 grain and prevent it from sprouting it should be stirred occasionally 

 with a clean garden rake or shovel. 



This selected seed should be sown as soon as it is sufficiently dry 

 to run through the drill. As the seed will be somewhat swollen, the 

 rate of seeding should be proportionally increased. Seed treated 

 in this manner will be free from small and weak grains, and a better 

 stand and greater yield will be secured from it than from ordinary 

 seed. 



This method is not to take the place of the fanning mill, but is 

 to be used in connection with it. It will remove many of the small 

 grains and weed seeds not removed by that machine. Where the 

 fanning mill is not available the treatment here described will be 

 found of great value. (B. P. I. Cir. 62.) 



THE TILLERING OF GRAINS. 



Grains tiller or stool when they throw up shoots from the root 

 after the seed has sprouted and the main stem has made its appear- 

 ance. A stool of grain thus consists of the stems and shoots produced 

 from a seed, and may be considered a single plant. This method 

 of growth is characteristic of the grasses to which all cereal crops be- 

 long. The number of shoots which grow and develop into grain- 

 bearing stems depends mainly upon the fertility of the soil, the in- 

 fluence of weather conditions, and the distance between plants. 

 Worn-out soils, or soils in which the plant food is not readily avail- 

 able; cold weather, either too wet or too dry, and sowing the grain 

 too thickly, are conditions which are detrimental to tillering. In 

 considering the subject, it is taken for granted that the seed is of 

 good quality. 



The fertility of the soil and the spacing of the plants are fac- 



