The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-05-20
AGRICULTURAL
Testing Seeds.


No seed where there is any doubt or I'M
certainty respecting it's vitality, should be
sown or planted until it has been fairly
tested. The loss occasioned by bad seed is
very great, while the annoyance and disap-
poiatment caused by the failure of seed to
terminate can hardly be expressed in words.
In States having an experiment station, for
sign seed is examined and tested at the
expense of the State. but where no such ia
cilities are afforded farmers must do it for
themselves. We have sometimes adopted
the following method for testing the vitality
of garden seeds and have found it an un-
failing guide: Place few seeds of each va
riety on a piece of mostened flannel, fold
ing the flannel together and allowing it to
remain day or two in some warm place
near the furnace or stove. Those seeds that
are without vitality will be found to have
turned dark, showing signs of decay, while
the good seeds will remain unchanged. 1t
is a law that pervades all organic matter,
that the moment it ceases to live, the temp
erature being favorable, Disqualification be
gins. This applies as we'll to inorganic as
to organized matter. A dead seed
or a dead animal soon decays and is re-
solved into its elements. while one contain
ing the vital principle withstands the action
OF the elements for years.
The germ of the seed may be destroyed by
severe cold, provided the seed is not perfect
ly dry when put away, or if in an exposed
situation when the snow will blow upon it
producing moisture, the next cold snap may
destroy its vitality. To test the vitality of
corn take a few kernels more or less, from
each ear and place them in shallow dish
and cover them with moist earth and set
them in a warm place After few days
examine them and note what per cent have
sprouted and the strength of the young
shoots, The greater the vitality the more
vigorous will be the young shoots and the
better the chances for full crop of corn.
We are aware that the subject of good seed
is a hackneyed one, but Notwithstanding the
Zine upon line and precept upon precept"
which have been written, the evil arising
from the use of untested seed still exists.
Prof. Knapp sends the following to west
err paper which is exactly to the point:
by no method of cultivation can imper-
feet, Immature and unhealthy seed produce
and maintain healthy and vigorous plants.
The seed must contain sufficient nntriment
to sustain the young plant till the leaf is de-
veloped and its roots are established.
Large, perfect and healthy seed is the prop
er and peculiar foundation of large and Wig
orous plants. Beyond the amount IF mate
rial stored in the seed for use of the young
plant there is an inherent vitality which is
transmitted to the plant as a parental dow
er. If then we seek for an even stand of
grain, seed of even size and appearance
should be selected, and such as has been
raised under uniform conditions. Purity of
seed is also a matter of important consdera-
ton. The farmer should be as careful to
obtain pure seed for his ground as pure
males for his flocks and herds. AS inland
in breeding deteriorates the herd, so seeds
seem to languish without an Infusion of
new blood. This renewal can be accom-
plished by frequent exchange between relia-
BILE farmers or by purchase. All of which
requires care."-Maine Farmer