The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-28
Importance of Good Seed Wheat.

The recent meeting at Heron Lake,
Minnesota, under auspices of the Tri-
State Grain Growers association, at
which hundred or more farmers met
representatives Of the state experiment
station and discussed the seed wheat
question, marks the turn of the agita-
tion from the theoretical to the practi-
cal.
Not only from the situation this
year, but from desire for permanency
Of practical work for general seed i'm
provement, have come the three forms
of effort, now operative or prospective
the seed train plan of the railroads, the
farmers meetings, and the proposition
for a seed wheat bureau in Minneapolis.
This latter suggestion emanated from
Mr.. James V. McHugh, a practical grain
man. Its inception, however, dates
back to 1908, to Professor Hays, now as
sistant secretary Of agriculture, then of
the state experiment station. It was
the idea Of Professor Hays that distri-
button Of the strengthened seed wheats
of the experiment station could be IA
cilitated by such bureau.
In 1901 about 1900 bushels Of Mime
sofa No. 169 wheat were grown at the
university farm. This is a fine type
Of blue stem, better adapted to the soil
OF the southern tWo-thirds Of the state
than fife. To seedsmen were sold 100
bushels. The remaining 1900 bushels
went in small lots to 375 farmers, a
majority of whom used it for seed re-
production only. Eighty-nine farmers
sowed it under conditions exactly the
same as provided for their old wheats.
Average yields from the state seed were
2l.5 bushels, against 1872 for the old va
rites, an increase equal to IS per cent,
or 21a bushels to the acre, on the basis
of fourteen bushels, the average per
acre for the state.
If by the continued use Of the high
est seed types the total yield of Min
nesota can be raised IS per cent, and
there is no good reason to doubt it, the
annual gain in wealth to the state, the
| increased business for railroads, bank
ers, elevators and millers, and the great
er activity and prosperity accruing to
the many directly or Indirectly en-
pleyed in the grain trade or it's allied
lines will be SO generally beneficial, as
to make the expense and labor of the
propagation Of the good seed idea seem
as nothing.
The present agitation should not be
understood merely as a move to meet
an emergency, but rather as the mani
festation of increasing sentiment favor
ing permanent, systematic work for
seed rovement-sentiment strength
ened blythe wide discussion of the sub
! ject following the rust phenomenon Of
last year.. :. r.".-r :.
Grain dealers, millers, farmers and
groWersfof pure-bred seed, the state ex-
perimental station and even the United
States department of agriculture: might
be brought into cooperation, around
some central agency for seed distribu-
ton and the collection and dissemina-
ton Of information bearing upon the
subject. Professor Hays has shown
every disposition to push the good seed
idea, and could no doubt be relied upon
to give all the assistance in his power.
| A person who rushes out to buy an ell
legged 'extra' at pm. and finds on it
the Hateful news that it is showing at La
crosse, has learned something about rep
| utable newspaper work that he will not