CORRELATING AGRICULTURE IN NORTHERN STATES, 



27 



(a) Select and mark before maturity more plants than is thought necessary, (b) 

 Select from early maturing plants more seed than is needed, (c) Cure thoroughly, 

 store safely in a dry place, (d) Test before planting season and discard ears or 

 plants having low percentage germination. Refer to the instructions forwarded from 

 United States Department of Agriculture through club leader in the State, also Farm- 

 ers' Buls. 537, How to Grow an Acre of Corn, and 617, School Lessons on Corn. 



HI. SEED CURING AND STORING. 



The importance of this is not generally appreciated in the North . In New England 

 and northern New York to North Dakota not. only do killing frosts come early in 

 September in some years, but a freeze heavy enough to destroy the vitality of poorly 

 dried seed is almost sure to come early in October. Seed corn at harvest time con- 

 tains from 20 to 50 per cent water, and in case of freezing this water expands and 

 destroys germination cells. The same water might, under other conditions, favor the 

 heating or molding of the seed. For these and other reasons early selection and 



Fig. 6. — Sand tray for testing seed corn. 



careful curing are very advisable. 1 (See Farmers' Bui. 537 and Bureau of Plant 

 Industry Circ. 104.) 



In storing remember (a) to keep seeds safe from mice and insects; (b) to keep dry, 

 lest moisture absorbed cause premature sprouting or molding; and (c) to keep from 

 excessive cold, as the moisture is never entirely dried out the first season. 



Have drying and storing contrivances shown and their use demonstrated at school. 

 Refer to Farmers' Buls. 229, 253, 313, 537, and 617. 



IV. SEED TESTING. 



In nearly all texts, manuals, and bulletins dealing with seeds the methods of testing 

 seeds are explained and illustrated. This should come in late winter or early spring. 

 Make it clear to pupils that two ears of corn may look equally good, and while one 

 proves perfect in germinating power the other may show but a small percentage. 

 Illustrate also the waste from low vitality in seeds which germinate but start too 

 slowly. (Fig. 6.) 



Illustrate different methods in school and use the sprouted seeds for related nature 

 study. Continue some seedlings for further observation of cotyledons, leaves, etc. 



1 In 1914 a frost occurred as far south as Maryland, on September 14, which was severe enough in some 

 places to damage immature seeds. Hence the same practice is advisable throughout the whole section 

 and is imperative with late varieties. 



