The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-02-06
Foul Seed.

Editor Register and Jourudt The en-
| terprising seedsmen of the country are
furnishing us already with beautiful and
elaborate catalogues, containing an array
of garden and field seeds in the greatest
prOfusion. Such enterprise is a hopeful
| sign. Farmers should commence early
to secure and fit for sowing all needed
seeds, so that the vernal sun shall find
all in readiness to cooperate with nature
| for future crops.
There is certainly occasion for great
palns-taking to secure good seed. and
scarcely less TO avoid foul ones. A
single grain of an improved variety, cul-
tivated and disseminated throughout the
country, might be estimated at millions
of dollars. In like manner, u foul seed
introduced contains the possibility of
immense fucure damage. "One sinner
destroyeth much good
The farmers of our State are largely
! dependent upon seedsmen for grass. and
almost wholly for CLOVER seed Each
year adds to the amount sown. This is
well. But an evil of the greatest mag
nitude is impending our agricultural in
| terest so long as there is no legal mpedi-
ment to the sale of the foulest of seeds
along with the grass-seed we purchase.
The wild carrot, yellow daisy and chic
ory have firm foot-hold in many fields
already. and the end is not yet. There
are more to come. The Colorado potato
beetle was an expensive enough gift
from the West, and it would seem mis-.
taken and culpable policy of our State to
take no action TO prevent the sale of foul
seeds, now foreign to our State.
Submissively we expect to live and die,
along with the hateful kale and Canada
| thistle, and hope, like the aiilictions of
Job. they may be turned to some account;
but TO endure the horde of prairie weeds
what grace will be sufficient:
1t should be observed, also, that the
evil in question will be permanent. de-
| tracing largely, each year, from the az
ricutural products of the State. 1t,
| therefore. becomes State interest. If
wood-chucks are worthy the attention of
our legislators, why not this subject of
vastly more Importance: Nothing short
of State legislation will suffice. Farmers
do rot--often cannOt--detect impure seeds,
and such As is offered. or none, will be
soWn.
The subject is difficult to manage, but
in default of no plan, how. would the
following work?
Appoint ii seed inspector, with suitable
pay, for each county in the State. Make
it illegal to sell imported seed until in
spected and indorsed As pure by the
proper authority. Not only purity. but
also the vitality of the seed should be
assured. With due notice, our local seed
men might escape loss by securing
though at extra costa warrant from
the houses they patronize that all seeds
falling to pass inspection should be
returned. Let the extra cost" paid for
the warrant be added to the price of seed
and paid by the farmers. Seed unsold
could be kept over and sold as such.
There are but few towns in each
county-not more than five or six in
Addison-N where the seed Inspector would
be called and his work should be prompt
Y and efficiently done. There are II
counties in the State. and, thus oflicered,
the expense would be something. and let
it be so recognized; and still il would be
small indeed relatively, provided the
object sought was obtained.
If this meth ID seems impracticable, it
is hoped others more feasible will be
suggested and discussed. The difficulty
lies back of our local seedsmen, who are
not here criticised but commended for
their efforts. though Intellectual thus far.
il our behalf.
How many farmers in the hurry of
the haying season have stopped their
teams and at no small expense and an
noyance have pulled yellow daisies and
the like, with zeal commendable and
sweat unenviabie," that such pests might
be stayed. Lawyers, merchants and
editors, called upon to so labor, in July
sun, would agree with the farmers that
speedy redress should be obtained.
Those only who feel the grievance will
duly estimate the magnitude of the evil.
| | fhapafnra fn 70
protection, as well as for the general in-
terests of the State, that the sowing of
foul seeds shall at least be curtailed, and
so far arrested as the nature of the case
shall admit. l.. w. PEET.
Cornwall, VT, Feb. 2, 1885.