Show High Gl Grade ade Seed Corn Essential Germination Test Is Reliable Index of Productiveness and Vitality The necessity of the highest grade tested seed corn has been brought home borne to tho agricultural population of ot the country very emphatically by bythe bythe bythe the failure of the crop over large sections sections sections sec sec- last year owing to unusually early frosts and cold wet weather r all nIl season and the the falling off oft In production production tion due to severe drought t this sum sum- mer The essential f factor also of selecting selecting se se- adapted adapted- seed corn from pm types to the section wh where re ret Jt t is to be grown is a also so recognized and nd emphasized by bythe bythe bythe the seed trad trade While low yields yields' may be attributed to adverse growing we weather ther in many cases in others low fertility poor cultivation cul cuI tv tio drainage bad bad drainage ral ag annd Insect t at- at attacks tacks cut Supt C figure However How How- ever ever eve Il if It lids has been r discovered jn the h last la last t ty y year that some som seed corn c n Is Is' Is i Infected with types s of o fungus fungus' n ls' which which- sey Severely rely Injure I its germinating its ity Seed Se d houses and state experiment stations have elaborate rate germination germination germination ger ger- ger- ger t tests and Uli have found that these th se necessary are are necessary to protect the buy buy- bu buyer er of seed corn I r Not t Good for forSed d. d t Tho experts rt c of tp te hl s dho lS laboratories lob lab oratories rind and or of the experiment stat sta- sta t agree gree that corn com which tan falls to show hIgh germinating q quality and strong rapid growth grown should not be used for seed The seed trade has destroyed destroyed de do- considerable looking fine seed corn stock because Its tests sh showed ved that germination was vas not all aU that It should he pa There are fo four r important fungi against Wh which ch the tile seed trade is guarding guarding guard guard- ing as s z zealously as It is able The first Is a common parasite of t corn and small grains widely distributed over the corn com belt It is responsible for tor the rot root disease In corn Another causes dry rot of the ears A third variety causes pink rot of corn kernels ker ker- nels nels and th the fourth also affects the thee substance of the kernels It is necessary to disinfect the seed corn to kill the spores of these fungi I following which germination tests are necessary in the special Incubators used to test the viability of seeds Germination Test The Illinois experiment nt station after atter conducting a long series serles of ot experiments experiments ments Issued a bulletin on on these corn diseases last year and this summer the University of Louisiana Issued a similar study The recommendation of Louisiana where the corn yield h has s. s been unusually low says ays It has bas been generally assumed that a a germi germi- germination germination germination nation test is Js n a a reliable Index of or th the vitality and productiveness of corn com cornand cornand and mid conse consequently It is S usually recommended recommended recommended mended that germination tests be bea inane made a with all se seed seed corn d. d corn and and nil all ears I discarded aI ed that do not come coma up to a n. q standard If It only a small email percentage pf off the kernels of-nn of of an ear germinate or orIf r rif If if the growth of the young plants Immediately Im- Im Immediately Im mediately following germination Is weak that ear should not be used for seed s It is upon the principle of this r recommendation rec recommendation rec- rec c- c on that the big seed seed houses have bave been een carefully testing and gradIn grad grading In ing their In-their their seed corn |