The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-23
TO TEST SEEDS AT BUFFALO.
Interesting Experiments at the APP
preaching Pan-American Show.

interesting EsSDefE Ia MS al the -AD-
preaching Pan-American Show.
The progressive agriculturist VIII be
interested in the exhibit of the Division Of
Botany of the United States Department
of Agriculture at the Pan-American Elk
position. as II relates to one of the first
essentials Of his calling. The exhibit viii
be restricted to only one of the numer-
Gus lines of work conducted by the Di-
vision of Botany-nameIy, pure seed in
vestigations 1t will represent the work
of the Seed Laboratory at the Depart
ment of Agriculture. where samples Of
all seeds distributed by the Government
are now carefully tested for purity. ger
mininability and freedom from seeds Of
noXious weeds Thousands of samples
from farmers and seedSmen In all parts
of the country are also tested at this ia
bOratory. The work is Of special interest
to farmers. gardeners. seedsnen and ex-
pertinent station workers, to whom the
subject of pure seeds is of vital irnpor-
lance. The Seed Laboratory Of the De
partment Of Agriculture - We'll recog-
nized as the most important seed test
Ing station in America It's methods.
standards. and most important pieces of
apparatus have been adopted for seed
testing stations. The methods now in
tiSD sAAA many VI the iilStI t1ilEliLS tllAI
larger pieces of apparatus have been de-
vised and perfected by the men IN charge
TO meet the necessities of the work
On entering the space devoted to this
exhibit at the left Of the main aisle one
sees first in a glass case d purity sepa-
rating table, with magnifying glass,
forceps and other tools used by experts
IN separating sample Of commercial
seed into its component parts OF pure
seed, chaff, sand, and other foreign mat
ter, and weed seeds Next is a pair of
fine balances. on which Samples are
weighed. all percentages IN seed purity
tests being based upon weight Be
yond the scales is a new combined mix
er and sampler. In this a quantity of
seeds is quickly mixed and a sample of
the desired amount delivered which viii
fairly represent the entire lot One Of
the most attractive pieces of apparatus
used in purity testing is the blast i'm
purity separator. which is also new
device The air blast is furnished bv A
modern blower driven by an electric
motor The device itself. however. in
which the separation Of chaf and light
er impurities from seed is performed
through the action of an air current
consists of d simple bent glass tube
connected with a receiver
Actual termination tests Will be car
rled Oh at the Exposition as IN the Seed
Laboratory at Washington Commercial
seeds viii be counted arranged in
folded blue blotters. moisteRed and
Climber, where they viii be kept at
fixed temperatures favorable to ger
TnInatOn. Check termination tests sur1
as are employed IN conducting tests with
many kinds Of seeds. VIII De I.D4le IA
SteTlllZed sand and soil IN greenhouse
hats. The number terminating each
DAY Tor a definite period IN each of the
tests VIII De noted and the percentage Of
termination thus computed.
Many weeds the seeds of which ere
most frequently found as impurities in
living plants, labeled with the names
BY which they should he Designated BY
English speaking people wherever
found unique feature os an exhibit
also several kinds Of commercial seeds
arranged under forty Tn.s;-rifV-rg.-. class
IS, accompanied by seeds Of tie same
kiIdS in open dishes. so chat eut. may
readily compare the raaguifsed fm9Ie s-
sion with the actual seed and more If
ferences and distinctive characters that
would not appear to tn 4i,,tide! 80
The results and Importance - seed
testing are graphically represented by,
several grs4ups of glass tubes cOnt@in-
Ing different kinds of commercial Sc dS
seed. the 0Tn9 T-gt Of pure seed true TO
name IN the sample and the amount f
inert matter, such as char, sti' * and
sand. the pTODOrtIJl OF weed seeds and
finally the amount Of EeTTninitiLe seeds
true TO name. as determined - t-st Of
similar sample and the proportion CT
waste. Comparison OF these JaSL two
indicates now much Is often paid for
waste in buying u1teste1 and poorly
cleanSsd ssEs.lS-
Cnmmnrcldi srrdS growing Is shown ~
Photographic illustrations Of some of
the largest seed farms IL Cali. ,,fnia.
where tee production Of EaJden see1s
has reached its highest development IL
this eOunGry-
The exhibit is ,;nder The general di-
re elton Of EreI nick y Coville. Chief
iTlmedidre Supervision or Mr. EJig.r
Brown, assistant j. cilarge Of x, rTnirs-
ten tests in the 5ed Testing d-ssAcrItor