6 Yearbook of the Department of Agriculture. 



PRIMITIVE SEED-TESTING METHODS. 



Various methods of testing the germination of seed corn 

 were practiced by the Indian tribes. On the Eed Lake 

 Reservation in northern Minnesota, corn was grown along 

 the borders of Eed Lake. The locality is more or less 

 densely wooded ; hence, use was made of moss in germinating 

 seed previous to planting. A box was filled with moss, and 

 kernels of corn were placed in the moss. The whole was 

 soaked in water for a time and then set in a warm place until 

 the kernels sprouted. Dead kernels were discarded, and the 

 sprouted kernels were planted. Other tribes made willow 

 baskets, filled them with kernels of corn, poured water 

 through the corn, and placed the baskets in a warm place to 

 start germination. Among the northern and western tribes, 

 it seems to have been a general custom to soak the kernels of 

 corn previous to planting, the object being to hasten the 

 germination of the seed. 



In connection with the soaking of the kernels, supersti- 

 tion played a conspicuous part. The older women of the 

 tribes placed various substances in the water in which the 

 corn was soaked. These substances were believed to in- 

 fluence the behavior of the future plant in the field and to 

 insure its being free from plant diseases and other enemies. 

 As an example of this might be cited the use of the ground 

 plum (Astragalus caryocarpus). The fruits of this plant 

 were often soaked in water with the corn. The ground 

 plum is prolific, bearing many fruits, and it was the belief 

 that its use in this connection would insure prolific corn 

 crops. 



THE NETTLE SEED TESTER. 



It may be a surprise to many to know that a method of 

 germination somewhat similar to our modern rag-doll 

 seed germinator was used by middle-western tribes. The 

 material used in this tester was the stem of the slender 

 nettle (Urtica gracilis). It was used in the following 

 manner : 



When the time for planting corn was at hand, quantities 

 of the nettle were gathered. They were piled in a sort 

 of mat, and on this mat the kernels were placed. The 

 mat of nettles was then rolled up so that it made a cylindrical 



