Evening journal., 1907-02-22
STATION OFFERS
ITS ASSISTANCE
VIII Aid FaTmsTS to Test
Seeds Before Planting
Them

II. S. jackson. Of the Delaware Col
lege Experimental station at Newark.
has issued a bulletin to farmers OF the
state in which ne offers the stations
assistance In aiding them to test their
crop seed.
The bulletin IS as follows;
zone Of the most important things
for the farmer to consider at this sea-
son Of the year is the seed which he
is TO plant IN the spring Whatever
the crop, It IS Of the highest import
ance that the seed be the best that
can be secured.
Tt Is too often the case that the
grower pays little or no attention to
the source Of his seed or to the variety
II possible he should know the cond-
tion Of the crop from which the seed
was taken, especially with respect to
productivity and the amount Of disease
He should make sure that the variety
Is one which IS suited to his locality
very productive and not particularly
subject to any Of the more important
diseases. The good dairyman breeds
only from the most productive cows.
and those free from disease. The good
poultryman breeds only from tho best
layers. So the farmer should plant
seed Of only such varieties as are pro-
ductive and especially suited to his
locality.
mot less important than the variety
and past history Of the seed is its con-
dition at time Of planting. Il should
be pure that is. free from any con-
siderable numbers Of weed seed. adult.
Grants and inert matter. II must have
a high percentage Of termination. Il
is urged, that, where any amount OF
seed is to be bought. a guarantee from
the dealer regarding the percentage Of
purity and Termination be required. A
test Of n sample should then be made
20 insure that the seed is up to the
guarantee. Maine has law requiring
that all seed, in quantity exceeding
cne pound. sold I'm the State, be sold
under a guarantee giving the percent.
age of purity and termination. The
tests on which this guarantee is based
are provided for by state funds, and
are under the control Of the Expert
ment Station. The law also provides
for regular inspection. and tests, sim
liar 20 the fertilizer inspection in prac-
tice IN Delaware. Other states have
similar laws regarding seed testing.
Since no law of this sort exists in
Delaware. each grower should make
It point TO see that the seed he is
to plant is Of a good variety, shows
high percentage Of termination. and
is free from any considerable quantity
Of weed seed or inert matter.
In grass, clover wheat and similar
crops. the purity test is very important,
for in such seed many weed seeds may
be present. which can only be detected
by a careful examination. Inert mat
ter consisting Of bits Of dirt sand,
broken seed and other rubbish makes
up a large percentage OF some OF the
cheaper grades Of seed Of these crops.
1.-The geunination test should be
made for all seed. In such crops as
tomatoes. cantaloupes. corn, ETC.. it is
Of more importance than the purity
test. which is properly prepared seed
Of these and similar crops, should not
be necessary.
"The Delaware College Agricultural
Experiment Station takes this oppor-
tunity to offer assistance to any per-
sons. i'm Delaware. who may be inter-
ested in testing their seed for purity OF
/ germination. We would earnestly
urge that those who have not planned
tn test their seed this year, make pre-
parations 10 do so. If the details OF
the work are not properly understood
write to the Experiment Station, ant
/ full instructions will he cheerfulls
given. It is urged that the grower
learn to test his own seed, as by 81
doing. he will be able to see for him
self. after a. few trials. the importance
OF this work The Experiment Station
is. however prepared 10 make boti
purity and termination tests and VII
do this tree OF charge 70 any one wh'
viii send q sample OF seed.
Each sample sent to BE- tested shoui'
oe enclosed IN strong, securely dast'
ened package. and be accompanied bl
a statement giving che following in
formation. Name under which see'
was sold: name and address OF seller
price paid; II possible. where and whei