The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1910-03-18
To Progressive Farmers
and Seedmen

! Many thousands OF dollars are lost
annually by both the. farmers and
seedmen of the Northwest and Pacific
Coast states, through the purchase
and use of inferior seeds. This loss
is four.fold: First, through the pur.
chase of seed of low vitality, or of seed
containing high percentages of worth.
less or harmful impurities. Second,
through the resultant thin stand and
poor crop obtained tor the same
amount OF labor expended as for a
good crop. Third, through the seed
ing of the land to worthless plants or
to noxious weeds. Fourth, through
the loss of business to seedmen.
The Seed Laboratory of the Bureau
of Plant Industry, U. S. Dept, of
OF Agriculture has opened branch
seed.testing laboratory at Corvallis,
Oregon. This laboratory is solely for
the use of the residents of the Pacific
Coast and adjoining states, for testing
seeds free of charge. The work of
this laboratory will include: Q) The
Identification of seeds of any kind.
(2) The examination of samples for the
presence of adulterants and doddor.
(3) The testing Of seeds for purity.
~ Testing for termination.
Examination for Adulterants or
Doddor requires but little time and
will be given precedence over all other
work. AL samples sent for this pur.
pose will be examined at once and
report sent by mail, or on request, by
telegraph, at the expense of the
receiver.
The test for Purity requires the
separation of the sample into three
parts: /, Pure seed; 2, Foreign seed;
3, Dirt and chaff; and the determine
ton of the percentage by weight of
each of these three parts and identlfi-
cation of the weed seed present. This
test requires considerable time and
can be made only by experts. The
facilities of the laboratory will permit
not more than FIVE such tests to be
made for any one firm or individual
in any one calendar month. Purity
tests will be made and reports sent
as promptly as possible and in the
order in which the. samples were
received,
The test for termination is made
to determine the percentage of seed
which will terminate under favorable
conditions. Samples will be tested
for termination in the order in which
they are received, and not more than
ten tests for termination will be made
for any one firm or individual in any
one calendar month.
DIRECTIONS FOR SENDING
1. All samples should be drawn SO
as to represent accurately the bulk
seed from which they are taken.
2. The size of sample should be
tablespoonful for small seed, such as
clover and grasses, and FIVE table
spoonfuls of the larger seeds, such as
the grains.
8. All samples should be marked
with the name ami address of the
sender.
4. A letter should accompany the
samples stating whether the seed is to
be tested for purity, for termination,
or for both, and the source of the seed,
5. All samples and letters should
be addressed to the Seed. Testing
Laboratory, Oregon Agriculture Col.
lege, Corvallis, Oregon.
All agricultural seeds should be
tested before they are purchased, or
in any case. before they are used, not
only small seeds but grains of doubt
full quality, as well, Farmers and
seedsmen both, are urged to make
the fullest use of this laboratory. and
raise the STANDARD of seed used upon
the farms. H, d. SCUDDER,
Collaboration in Charge.