Show RAG DOLL TESTER IS EFFECTIVE EFFECTIVE IN SHOWING GERMINATION OF SEED CORN CORNI I V 0 4 i i j i k Ut l i 2 i f f 7 B 7 L t J 1 i J i h L q 4 it fA t. t i 11 i J 4 t. t t l f r Jt M. M r t tt t- t Ali I IPp i f f y T v 5 I Pp j. j i r lO IO L I 0 x y 0 tt 1 df T Tv 1 i. i r i 1 1 v t ft j F t 1 f lt ij f r C i T t v f q J I tit 1 t. t j S 'S Jl Ii 7 I. I d 1 I 4 1 t J f t ii ra l ll h C Cf iii j it it 1 f A r lt I Results of Ear Test by Rag Doll Method Note Method Note the Differences In Germ Germ- Some Some Have Only a Weak Germination While Only One Is a Desirable De- De Seed Ear I Pr Prepared pared by the United the United States Department Department Depart Depart- ment of Agriculture There here i are no large sections north of or Virginia Kentucky Arkansas and Oklahoma where the corn corn crop matured matured matured ma ma- and dried well enough to supply any large quantity of seed which can be planted with safety without ear testing There Is very ery little seed of the 1916 crop available As a result I each se section must depend largely upon Its own 1917 crop crop- for crop for seed Germination Germination Germina Germina- tion tests sh show w that much of or the supposedly sup sup- good seed put put up p last fall tall Is not germinating well In this this crisis I there Is only one way to make sure of high high germinating adapted seed seed which h I will guarantee a good stand of vigorous vigor Igor vigorous ous growing plants necessary for a high yield This way Is to test ear-test the available supply In the locality and it Is the opinion of or corn specialists special special- of or the department of agriculture that all local seed supplies should be tested teste 1 before outside sources are resorted resorted resorted re re- re- re sorted to Most Practical Tester I The obviously sly unfit ears can be eliminated by inspection but many of those left which to all appearances are well matured and fit lit for seed will willbe willbe be shown by the tester to be weak or dead while the remainder can be relied relied relied re re- re- re lied upon pon to give good results results' when planted There are many testers In use but put the the mos most J practical a and d eco eco economical eco eco- of oC them all Is the rag doll Bleached Blenched mus muslin n is a satisfactory material material ma ma- for making the doll Cut Into strips 16 IG Inches wide and three to five fie feet long By a line drawn down the center and cross lines every four Inches the doll Is divided Into sections each cach of ot which Is to be filled with a six to ten kernel sample from froman an ear to be tested Select these kernels ker her eels nels from different parts of the tho ear car Number the ears to correspond with the number of ot the section In which the kernels are to be placed Fold the outer edges of the tester toward the center so that they meet roll the doll about a corn cob or other cylindrical object and tie Soak the doll don for a afew afew afew few hours drain off ofT the excess mois mols moisture ture and place It where It will not dry out and will be subjected to a n good I growing temperature At the tile end endot ot about five days the tests should be ready for reading The accompanying accompany accompany- ing Illustration shows a tester ready for reading Ears germinating 80 SO SOper per cent or more should be saved for seed This year it Is well to retain all ears car showing a germination of CO GO COper per cent or on Oyer over keeping these poorer pOOler germinating ears separate These ma may have to be used If the supply of or seed germinating SO 80 per cent or belter better better bet bet- ter Is not sufficient If used the they should be planted thicker than the tile g good oel see seed Farmers Farmer's Bulletin of the United ed States department of agriculture entitled entitled en en- titled The Rag Doll Seed Tester describes fully this method of testing seed corn |