PREPARATION AND PLANTING 



193 



The ear test 



136. When the preliminary test shows germination to be 

 low or a high percentage weak, it will pay to germinate 

 each ear separately. 



There are several " seed testers " on the market adapted 

 for this work, but satisfactory germinaters can be made 



Fig. 57. — Making a germination test. The rack contains 100 ears, cor- 

 responding in number to the squares in the germination box. 



at home. Usually a series of shallow trays are made and 

 filled with sawdust or sand. A eloih. is laid on top 

 marked off in two-inch squares, and each square is num- 

 bered. Twenty inches square is a convenient size, though 

 some prefer a tray twice to five times as large. The ears 

 to be tested are laid out on shelves in sets of ten. The 

 ears are then taken in order, six grains removed, and these 

 grains placed in the corresponding square on the cloth, 

 o 



