The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1904-04-23

QeCalt6 OF JnlS WOrK Will De given
in the annual report of the E2per-
iment Station for 19O4.-Bulletin.
Farmers Should Test Seed Grain.
Every year the experiment sta
tion tests samples of ssed grain for
farmers of the state, making merely
+germination or growth tests, simply
ito test the e-viability. We do this dur
ing the winter months as a matter
Of accommodation, but stop short
the first Of April in order to have
time for our regular experimental
which is very pressing at this time.
terminating seed is in no sense
experimental, and we ought not to
doaits Each farmer seeding grain
would learn very much more by
testing it himself and by watching
the growth that takes place. Any
one having good eyes and who can
count, can test the terminating
power and growth value of seeds.
Unless farmer learns to do this
sort Of work for himself, he is al
ways liable to be sowing weak seed
or a certain percentage of dead
grains. The loss to the farmers of
this state from seeding bin-burned
bleached and other types of weak
ened wheat and oats, is, to my GER
tain knowledge, very much greater
than one would ordinarily esti
There is much weak seed sown
every season, but there seems to be
much more of it on hand than or
dinarily. The weather conditions
Of abe last harvest were such that
thereris much grain that looks well
has good appearance, even grades
we'll at the elevators, but is dead or
very weak. If the grain was damp
for any considerable time either
before or after threshing, it ought
to be tested. Farmers cannot we'll
afford to lose two or three bushels
per acre in the yield, if few cents
penbushel will insure sound, strong
aeed. It is cardinal point in ag-
riculture that there ought to be a
rapid first growth from the seed.
It is a very easy matter to learn
whether the seed will put forth. a
quick strong growth. Take a plate
fill it nearly full of sand and dirt.
Pure sand is best. Lay on top of
the dirt or sand sheet or circle Of
!unglazed paper, or clean blotting
paper. Pour on water until the
same isjust nicely saturated and the
paper evenly wet thru. Count the
seeds to be tested in lots of 100
leach and spread them evenly on the
paper. Place another 100 very good
seeds of the same sort th ere also,
so that you can compare the growth
that occur. Invert another plate
over the seeds or cover with tin
lid to keep in the moisture. Keep
1.-THE germinator at ordin ary room
temperature. Add enough water
. each morning to keep nicely damp
and observe what happens. In
about four or five days one can
count out the bad or weak seeds.
It will pay to note what sort of
grains make the strong growth and
wise versa In this manner one can
soon become good judge OF seed
grain. We get discouraged with our
profession when we get bad grain
to be tested from the same men ev-
cry year. In some cases, they ac-
tually send seed of worse type and
character each time.
| If you don'tlike the plate method
described here, plant a few hundred
! Of the seeds to be tested in COM
mon box of dirt or sand and keep
moist OF in warm place for a week
Ito see what per cent shows germi-
nation. This is about all that is
done by us when the seed is sent
here to be tested, and we think our
time is worth more to the state if it
is spent in the line Of new studies
upon new plant diseases. Farmers
testing new seed for themselves are
greatly benefited by the experience
and we strongly urge them to fol-
/ low the directions outlined in this
\ bulletin instead Of sending the seed
to the Station for examination
4 Bulletin No. 16. ,&