118 CORN 



Take a piece of new white muslin, which should be a little larger 

 than the box, and mark oft" two hundred squares, each 2x2 inches. 

 Corn having especially broad kernels may require squares 2x3 inches. 

 This may be done with black or blue crayon. The squares may he 

 numbered from 1 to 200, beginning in the upper left-hand corner 

 aiid following consecutively from the left to right for each row or 

 the outside rows only need be numbered. Tack the cloth in place 

 stretching it uniformly tight over the sawdust. 



Take six kernels from each ear, two from opposite sides of the 

 tip, two from opposite sides of the middle, and two from opposite sides 

 of the butt. See that no two kernels are taken from the same row. 

 This will be a good representation of the germinating power of each 

 ear. It is not well to take the kernels from one side only, for fre- 

 quently an ear is found in which the kernels on one side germinate 

 strong, while those from the other side fail to grow. 



By placing the blade of a pocket knife between two rows of ker- 

 nels, and prying slightly, a kernel will readily come out into the 

 hand holding the ear. The six kernels should be laid on the floor 

 just opposite the butt of the ear. Continue this process until six 

 kernels have been removed from all the ears. Now take the germina- 

 tion box and, beginning on the first row, follow right down, placing 

 the six kernels from the butt of each ear into a square in the box, the 

 number of the square corresponding to the number of the ear. Thus, 

 the kernels from ear No. i in square No. i ; kernels from ear No. 2 in 

 square No. 2, and so on until the 200 groups of six kernels each are 

 all in their respective places. Another piece of plain muslin should 

 be cut just the exact size of the box. This covers the corn kernels 

 when laid in place. Next a third strip of muslin larger than the box 

 by twelve inches should be placed over the second. The remainder 

 of the box above should then be filled level with damp sawdust. Fold 

 the edges of the upper strip of muslin over on the sawdust and the 

 germination box is complete. 



A great many patent frames arq. being put on the market. Some 

 have points of value, others are not so practical. In time, a device 

 more easily manipulated than the one described may be manufac- 

 tured. As economy is a factor, the best corn tester must be a labor 

 saver. 



Laying Out the Ears and Filling the Box. If the seed is hanging 

 in the attic or loft or stored in a seed room it should be laid out in 

 rows on the floor or improvised tables. During this process, a keen 

 eye will detect some ears which from their outward appearance indi- 



