TESTING SEED CORN.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXII, Issue 2791, 17 May 1911, Page 3

TESTING SEED CORN.

HOW IT PAYS

A very striking example of how it pays the farmer to test every individual ear of seed corn is given in an exchange. A farmer was selected who raises good corn every year. He picks his seed corn early, and takes good care of it, so that he thought it was not necessary to test it. A test was made, and, whilst every ear was alive, only 250 ears contained good, strong seed, 46 ears being very weak and unfit for seed. The 250 ears oi good, strong seed were planted, and then the field was finished with the original untested seed. They were both planted in the same field, the same day, and by the same planter. They were cultivated and cared for just the same. Finally a count was made in the field, and where the untested seed was planted there were 342 ears ot corn to the row, and where the good, strong, tested seed was planted there were 2312 good ears to the same length row. The yield was about 50 bushels per acre where the untested seed was planted, and it was over ninety bushels per acre on the part ot the field where the good tested seed was planted. Most farmeis are satisfied with fifty bushels per acre, and leel that they are raising a good crop, but this experiment proved that a farmer can almost double his corn yield without one cent, more expense or a bit more work, except a few hours spent in testing his seed corn. In picking out the seed corn select about twice as much as you will need. After you have the corn picked out you fix up a test of 400 ears in three hours, so it requires very little time to select and test every ear. Save only the best and strongest seed, and you will cer- | tamly see a wonderiul increase in your corn crop.