Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1890-12-12
81. 90 PER ANNUM.
Mr.. Holtcr's way to prosperity as much,
as he imagines. Thanks for your space
and time. Respectfully,
s "A CANTON MAN.
NEWS, NOTES AND EXPERIENCES IN
FARM LIFE.
Tho Magnitude Attained by the Seed
Industry ef the Country Popular Prao-
tises Among Our Foremost seedsmen.

Few persons, whether farmers or not,
realize the magnitude attained by the
seed business in this country. As com
pared with olden times when every
farmer grew his own garden seeds OF
went without, unless he could borrow Of
q moro pro1ident neighbor, the increase
in this branch of agriculture has been 8
phenomenal one. By common consent
it seems to be understood that growing
seeds, especially such as are to be used
in flower and vegetable gardens, is best
done by those who make it specially
and, in addition to being large producers,
provide themselves with all the ap-
plianees necessary for the proper bar
vesting, cleaning and finally putting in
to acceptable packages the multitude Of
varieties now in the market. In no
other business has tho buyer to take so
much on trast. Hero, fortunately for
both buyer and producer, u good name
is the seedsman's surest and quickest
passport to success. Only by the con
vincing logic Of good results exhibited
in plants true to their names from trust
worthy seeds have leading seedsmen
gained widespread prominence.
One Of the things to be guarded
against in the use Of seeds grown at a
distance is the introduction Of new
varieties of no1ous weeds. This danger
attaches chiefly to grass and and grain
seeds grown by farmers for sale, but is
yearly becoming less from the use Of
better machines for cleansing from i'm
purites and the more critical inspection
to which they are being subjected.
Many Of our foremost seedsmen have
discontinued the practice of distributing
seed among small country stores, to be
sold on commission. The old custom Of
receiving back all that remained unsold,
and again sending out such varieties as
under favorable conditions are known to
retain their vitality for two or more sea-
sons, has brought this system into disre-
pute. This is no more than should be ex-
pected from a system by which the seeds,
while on sale are subjected to damaging
exposures, sometimes standing out in the
sun for months to attract attention. In
the southern states q year must Of neces-
sity render seeds thus exposed very doubt
ful, If not wholly worthless. The ten
dency now among leading seedsmen and
the demands of their customers are to re-
strict the sale Of seeds to those of the last
seasons growth. The failure to germi-
nate, of which complaints are so often
made and which isso frequently charged
to the poor quality Of the seed, is quite
often due to the manner of planting OF
unfavorable weather during the time for
termination. Many plants prove better
when the seeds are grown at distance
from the place where they are to be
planted. This, however, is not Of uni
versal application, and ought not to de-
ter farmers and gardeners from saving
seed from their own crops when said
crops have proven satisfactory and are
free from disease.
Some Of the seed catalogues devote
large space to snowy illustrations Of
mammoth fruits and vegetables. Others
are veritable grides to field a1:l garden
culture, with their practical reading mat
ter about the plants and seeds catalogued,
and the simple but comprehensive direc-
tions given for planting. cultivating and
harvesting the same. These catalogues,
as a rule, are sent to any address free Of
cost on written application, especially
when tho writer remein bers to inclose a
stamp for return postage The present
is a convenient season for looking over
these descriptive manuals, and making
out ones orders for the seeds required
for another season.