FARM HANDICRAFT FOR SCHOOLS. 



15 



To provide pegs on which to string the wire to make the squares, 

 drive 6-penny nails 2 inches apart into the top edges of the sides 

 and ends of the box, allowing the heads to project \ inch above the 

 surface of the wood. Stretch the broom wire or cord around the 

 nails to form the division, as shown in the drawing. Print letters 

 and figures along one end and side, as shown in the drawing. Place 

 sand or soil in the box, and it is ready for use. 



A seed germinator similar in construction to the one just de- 

 scribed, but without the wires, is often used in seed-corn testing 

 work. Figure 23 shows a perspective drawing of a convenient- 

 sized tester of this kind. The box is 12J inches wide, 18£ inches 

 long, and 2 inches deep. A box of this size will test 45 ears of corn. 

 The box used in the previous exercise can be used if desired. Half 

 fill the box with sand or sawdust that has been soaked in water at 

 least an hour, pack the material level, and above it stretch a piece 



Fig. 23.— Seed germinator. 



of muslin that has been ruled into 2-inch squares. Number the 

 squares from 1 to 45, as shown in the illustration. Place the kernels 

 to be tested, germ side up, in the spaces, cover the cloth with another 

 piece of cloth a few inches larger than the box, and place wet sand 

 or sawdust above this cloth. Cover the box with a piece of glass 

 or oilcloth to prevent evaporation of the moisture and set it away 

 in a warm place for a few days. When examining the kernels to 

 see if they have germinated, always roll the top cloth back care- 

 fully, otherwise you are likely to get the kernels from the different 

 squares out of place. In the illustration the part marked A shows 

 germinated kernels, that marked B the numbered squares, and that 

 marked C the kernels ready to be tested. 



Instead of filling the box with sand or sawdust, the seed bed 

 can be made of heavy canton flannel or similar material. Use two 

 or three thicknesses in the bottom of the box and one or two thick- 

 nesses for covering the kernels. A new cloth should be washed 

 before using. It is well to bear in mind that canton flannel comes 



