The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1899-11-18
FARMER AND PLANTER.
SEED CONTROL STATIONS.
Work of the Department of AEricul-
ture that Can Not BIC Undercs-
timatcd by the Farmer.

The fact is not as widely known IS
It should be that the department OF ag-
riculture has in successful operation
one of the most complete systems for
the inspection and terminating tests
of seeds now in existence The crea-
ton of this desirable section OF lepart-
mental work arose from the fact that
the adulteration of seeds and the sale
O! those of low vitality had become so
general that the total amount of losses
Annually incurred was serious tax
upor the agricultural interests uf the
nation.
Seet-houses of long standing and
honorable reputation have been much
Injured by reason of the sales D,ade Ivy
disreputable firms. Buyers of seeds,
unlike those of testing was introduced,
been obliged to accept without qucs-
tion the variaus kinds of seed offered
for sale.
If farmers would inform themselves
as 10 the degree of purity and vitality
which high-gradc seeds should have.
and then insist upon the scotsman
guaranteeing his seeds to have sim
liar or at least a specified percentage
of pure, vital seeds, they would find II
expedient to supply these, and that,
too,without adding much TO the former
prices.
The specific guarantee system OF
selling seeds is now very generally
adopted in European countries,and has
practically driven low-grade seeds
from their markets. The honest and
competent seedman will agree to sell
his seeds on their real merits, and will
guarantee their purity and vitality UNI
der proper restrictions as to the meth
cd of testing and competency and dis
interestedness of the tester. Seedsmen
who viii not do this are not worthy OF
patronage.
The busy farmer too often fails to
examine the grains, grasses, forage or
garden seeds that he purchaser, to de-
tern.ine either their freedom from foul
weed-seeds or their terminating quail
~. The result of such indifference on
the part of the purchaser is that ex-
pensiye losses are incurred which could
and should have been avoided by lit
tie care. All purchasers of seeds are
directly interested in their actual
terminating power. Numerous ca''ses
affect their vitality. They may have
been immature at the time of gather
ing. been improperly stored. subjected
to the ravages of insects or otherwise
injured. The only safe plan is to test
their vitality before planting.
While practical farmers are fully
aware that the character and quality
oil the seed used tends directly to gov
ern the excellence and yield OF the
product. nevertheless the purchase OF
seed is too often delayed until the
time for planting, when there IS no
time to learn. its origin or to test its
vitality. In such cases the selection
that is made is not based upon the in
diyidual merits of the seed. but upon
its appearance only. The plan of pur-
chasing seed month OF more in adj
vance Of Inc season for planting is the
vtscst one. This would allow OF q
microscopic terminating test OF a
given number OF seeds what proportion
OF the seed would grow.
The breeders of fine stock are fniis
aware that the profit from the business
dcpeI,ds largely upon such careful
breeding that the special merits Of any
named breed will be reproduced by ju
dicious mating. Heretsforc much more
attention has been given to the seiec
ton of breeding animals from when
flocls and herds are to be produced
than Is given to the seed OF our most
important crops. Neither plants mol
animals are always exact reproduc
fans of their immediate parents, bu'
in the main do inherit and TRANSMIT
The combined characteristics of then
more remote ancestors in both male
and female lines. For this reason IT IL
of vital importance that the farmer
should know as definitely as possible
what arc the inherited good and bat
quality of the seeds he intends t.
nlept. Without good seeds the mos
profitable results GIN not be secured
for however good the cultivation, it j.
purity thrown away By the use OF i'm
perfect seed. AS well may one expec
10 get thoroughbred animal from
scrub stock. A plant as well as an ami
NAL must be both well fed and wei
bred to become what it should be
pedigrees Of desirable kinds ant
strains of seed are well worthy OF rec
ord. and these should be CAREFUL,
kept. WHY should not seed be selecte'
us much by the record as the characte
of the seed itself? The sowing OF clear
gtoa seet. means saving of much I'm
necessary labor. Why sow wecd-seed
for the privilege of Graduating them