Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-09-17
Farmers Should Save Their Own
Seed.

TILLERs of the soil are not always
aware of the losses and disappointments
incident to planting and sowing seed
destitute of vitality. In the autumn of
1878 the writer procured quantity of
" Bowick" wheat for seed, as this variety
was highly recommended by those who
had been accustomed to cultivate it. The
seed was sowed in a congenial soil, deep
and mellow, but not one kernel germi-
mated. That grain evidently had been
kept one or more years.
Seedsmen may offer any suggestions
that occur to them concerning the vitali-
ty of old seeds and old grain of different
kinds, yet the numerous failures of old
seed to terminate should teach every
farmer and gardener the importance of
providing a supply of reliable seed every
season. Sometimes seed wheat, oats,
barley or corn, which has been kept from
year to year, will appear to vegetate
quite as satisfactorily as that which grew
the previous season. Then again, scarce
ly a kernel will terminate. The influence
OF repeated dry weather of summer and
the alternate cold of winter on such seed
as may be kept from year to year is
usually so fatal to the vitality of the
germs that it is not safe to SOW or plant
old seed. 1t does not prove true that
seed containing large portion of oil
will retain its vitality for many success
sive years. Flaxseed yields a large per-
centage Of oil; yet u sack OF Russian
flaXseed sent to the writer was sowed on
rich and mellow ground, at a period in
the growing season when the soil was
moist and warm, but not Il single kernel
terminated
In the former part of the present grow
ing season packet of carrot seed and
another of parsnip received from the Ag-
ricultural Department at Washington,
d. c., were sowed in moist and mellow
seed-bed; but not one seed terminated.
Other packets of seed of the same sort
were received from seed-dealers in Roch-
ester and in New York city also, all of
which turned out to be old seed destitute
Of vitality A half -bushel of seed corn
was also procured of farmer in Orange
County, N. Y, who avcrred that the
grain was Of the first quality; and he felt
confident that every kernel would germ
mate. This seed was planted in a moist
and mellow soil after the ground had be-
come thoroughly warmed; yet not more
than half Of the seed planted ever came
up. Many of the ears when broken eX-
posed Il cob that was somewhat moldy,
and which had been kept the previous
season where the grain would not cure
properly and where the moisture of the
cobs could not escape, although the ker-
nels appeared all right. When an ear of
seed corn is broken the cob should al
ways appear bright without exhibiting
any signs of mold or dry rot. When corn
is kept in large shocks and the ears are
not husked until the moisture in the cobs
90,
has commenced, the vitality of the grain
is liable to be destroyed or seriously in
jured. In May, 1873, a quantity of tim
othy seed, red clover seed and some
orchard grass seed were sowed on a soil
well prepared; but not one seed of a
thousand terminated In this instance
the loss of the value of the seed consti-
tuted only small part of the damage in
cident TO poor seed When farmer
stocks a field down with grass seed and
clover seed and the seed fails to grow he
sustains the loss of a valuable crop.
Wheat, oats, barley and corn should
be saved for seed every season. 1t is
not safe to SOW or to plant any sort that
has been kept more than one winter.
1t Is no less important to SOW grass seed,
garden seeds, and seeds of all legumi-
nous plants every year Seed grain Is
often injured while in the NOW or stack
by the great heat evolved in consequence
of too much dampness in the straw.
The vitality Of clover seed, of timothy
seed and other grass seed is frequently
destroyed by the heating of the mows.
Seed may appear all right even when
there is no more vitality IN single
kernel than in grains of coarse sand
The ears of corn that come to matu-
rity first in the garden and field should
not be plucked and eaten according to
the usual custom; but red or black
string tied to every early ear to designate
it as grain to be left for seed. The first
tomato that ripens should be allowed to
hang 10 the vine until the pulp has begun
to decay. The seed of the first ripe
melons should be saved with care and
stored in paper sacks in the attic OF the
house. For two years past the writer
was obliged TO procure seed OF others.
But hereafter there will probably be no
loss, damage or disappointment from
planting old seed destitute of vitality.
Seeds of all sorts are things of life. The
little germ in many kernels is SO exceed
ingly small that one can scarcely per-
ccive it with the naked eye. Hence, it
requires only little too much moisture
or heat, or both alternately, to render
the minute vital atom as lifeless as dry
leaf of autumn.-Ne0 York Observer.
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