192 CORN CROPS 



STORING SEED CORN 



To insure good seed corn, the ears should be collected 

 as soon as mature and dried. Methods of drying are 

 discussed elsewhere. 



GERMINATION TESTS 



134. If seed corn has been properly saved, there will 

 be no occasion for making germination tests. It is much 

 cheaper to save the seed properly than to make germina- 

 tion tests. Whenever seed is to be selected from a supply, 

 the quality of which is doubtful, careful germination tests 

 should be made. 



The general test 



135. A general test should be made first. Choose 100 

 ears at random and remove three kernels from each at 

 different parts of the ear, as butt, tip, and middle. 



A good germinater is made by using two pie tins or 

 dinner plates. Fill one with sand, sawdust, or soil. Place 



Fig. 56. — A simple germinater for testing seed corn. The corn is placed 

 between damp cloths or blotters. 



a cloth on this and spread out the kernels to be germinated. 

 Place a second cloth over the seeds and wet down. Then 

 invert the second pie tin or dinner plate over the first 

 so as to make a moist chamber within. Keep moist and 

 in a warm place. Six days is sufl&cient time to allow for 

 germination. If 90 per cent or more of the seeds show 

 good strong sprouts, it is doubtful if it would pay to make 

 a germination test of each ear separately. 



