The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-03-22

An Excellent mud Valuable Contribution
for the Farm scrap-i;onL.

An Excellent nni Valuable confributiou
for the Farm scrap-f;onls.
Among perhaps tho most practical,
useful divisions Of work which the
agricultural stations are engaged in, /,
that ~ testing garden ani field seed.
They are thus enabled 10 point ont Ia
the public the difference hctwcm re-
liable and unreliable dcaiori, and pur-
cl'ascrs are justly entitled 70 this in
formation. II thus becomes an i'm
portant benefit to reliable dealers. who
suffer IN many ways from c~ounicrfciis.
Cultiyai0rs themselves have not az
ways given the subject sufficient attcn-
ton. They have made has'y and SUI
perlcial trials 0f seeds, and not unfrc-
qncntly have done the sccdsmcn injus-
tee. They have planted in badly pre-
pared ground. and sometimes The seeds
are buried AT the depth where they
can not grow. and other defective
treatment has rendered success impos-
siblc and uncertain. Instances are too
common where unjust ccnsuie has been
given ~ rttiriltn VII utlONlt VI lIt
failures Of the planters 10 give the
seeds a good. fine. mellow soil To grow
in, and to place them at proper depths.
with a sufficient supply Of moisture for
their termination. Iii Is 81 great i'm.
portance for cultivators 10 know good
seed from bad. and also 10 know
whether failure j. 10 be attributed ID
poor seed on 70 poor planting and cul-
tivation.
On the other hand. dishonest Won
ders have opportunity TO do Guilt
vators "A great injury. rs they may
lose a good crop entirely from this
cause. after the ground has been
handsomely prepared. and skillful and
honest secdsmcn suffer with them, in
the injury done to an honorable bust
ness some seeds retain their germi-
mating power for years. but are rarely
50 good as fresh ones. while other. are
oflittlc or no value unless perfectly
fresh Old seeds may be mixed with
fresh ones, and all sold az fresh. the
portion OF the good seeds which come
up aiding in the dec ption. Spuriou.
kinds may be mixed with genuine:
and sometimes to prevent detection
the spurious ones have their gcrmi-
mating power destroyed by heating.
Sometimes again the seeds Of bad
weeds. which resemble in appear
ance the seeds Of good kinds. are
mixed with them. Sand. the grains
Of which are as large as clover seed.
has bccn colored TO resemble IL. aud
largely mixed through IL and sold cx-
tensivcly TO farmers.
The agricultural stations are pro-
yided with means for determining the
percentage Of good and bad seeds in
supplies offered for sale. The dircc-
tors become familiar with the appear
ance Of different kinds, both genuine
and spurious, and may readily detect
them by sight. but they depend on
actually submitting them To the
practical test Of termination, count
ing the percentage which grows.
They determine the time required for
different kinds 70 terminate. which Il
often necessary TO prevent disappoint-
mcnt from false expectations on the
part Of purchasers.
But farmers and gardeners them
selves should give moro attention to
the subject. They should know all
the requirements for success from good
culture fine soil, proper depth and
sufficient moisture; and, becoming fa-
miliar with the appearance OF the
many kinds Of seeds. should themselves
test them ON a small scale beforehand.
This they may do in winter il regu-
larry warmed apartments. in suitable
soil, In boxes, pots or pans. kept in all
the proper conditions. counting the
number planted and the number which
appears. They may test old seed, and
determine its terminating value.
But they should not stop here. They
should make collections Of the seeds OF
all kinds Of noxious weeds. as well as
III those Of a more harmless character
may be used for a~dultcration.
These should BE- placed in glass vinls
Or boxes. and distinctly labeled. The
knowledge which may be thus OBJ
tanned would be Of much practical use
* well us satisfaction.
Such u collection might be easily
augmented By purchasing Of q relia-
bic scotsman (f a ~botanist. al the bet
Ier) a general collection Of such kinds
~ cultivators should know.
Amorc frequent use Of the means
ascertaining il injured. or sprout-
~. or frozen, or unripc seeds will
would often save the trouble Of
making inquiry through the agricult-
iral papers for the information which
he lnquirers could best obtain them
in the way which we have point.
d out -Country Gentleman.