Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-03-16
AS TO TESTED SEEDS.

It Is the custom of all seed dealers not
TO warrant any seeds. This Is all right
TO certain extent. There are hawks all
over the country, who. 10 the seed mer-
chants did not print disclaimer on all
their seed packages, would buy seeds for
no other reason but TO involve the dealer
from whom they purchase in lawsuit,
IL for some reason or other the seeds did
not Sermina,e. A great MANY dealers.
who have gree nhouses, test all their
seeds before putting them into their
stores. They may have seeds left over
from last season, which they think they
cannot sfford to discard, and IL fair
proportion OF them germinatc In their
glass houses, will label them q. h.
Now consider this testing of seeds a
wsste OF time and lsoor, 10 not of seeds.
10 know nv seed is fresh, there IL no
need of testing the ssme--it will ger
inmate. The question, however. IL not,
will the seeds germinste: but, will they
De the foundation for good crop: To
illustrate: NV neigbbor is = great onion
grower; he knows that 2-year-old seed
is not safe. Still ne has good qusn-
tity of old seed, and he Is anxious To test
IL. Accordingly he makes a hotbed and
plants a quantity OF IL, and also OF new
seed. TIE old seed germinsted, but not
verv freely: he had counted the seeds he
planted, and found that about two-,hirds
OF them had sprouted. he showed me
the result. lie thought IL he sowed the
old seed and sowed il a little thicker he
might get good crop from IL. told
him 70 throw the seed on the dung heap,
or he would ruin his reputation as a
grower Of big onions. what makes
YOU think so:" he asked. told him 10
look at the result of the new seed he
sowed beside the old. The former we're
more than double the size of the latter,
and they would always be the leaders.
He WAS convinced; but 10 fully satisfy
himself he trsnsplanted them, and by
the time when those grown from fresh
seed were big as fists the Others were no
bigger than hickory nuts.
This test of the onion seed applies TO
other kinds. II you want 10 grow cab
bages for exhibition. be sure the seed Is
from last seasons growth. But where
cabbages are sold by number instead OF
by weight. il il not always desirable TO
have too large heads, and seeds two or
three years Old VIII give better results.
A radish 20 o@ crisp and tender must
grow rapidly, so be sure that your seed
is OF the freshest. 4 weeyil-eaten bean
will not germinste, but weevil-eaten
pea will Still when you SOW peas, don't
expect anything from those with holes
in them. for although they may sprout,
they will never amount 10 anything;
perhaps not grow tall enough 10 bios
som.
might 90 over the whole list, but
these few examples ought TO satisfy any
body that I; is not always test OF the
quality Of the seed, because IL germ
mates in the testing house or hotbed. III
growers or dealers know the ages OF
their seeds they sell, and never send out
seeds that are more than year old,
there will be no need of testing. Still
they are justified In not giving any war
ranty With their goods, for reasons above
mentioned But they should warrant
everything they send out 10 be true TO
name.-Charles Everding, Connecticut.