The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-03-25
StrDS Will Br TESTED FREE
Farmers Can Find Out u They viii fiar-
vest What They Think They've Planted

an opportunity to have seed tested free
Of charge by the bureau OF plant in
dustry of the United States department
of agriculture, cooperating with the
Oregon agricultural college at Corvallis,
Oregon. The following notice is now
being sent out by H. d. Scudder, col
laborator in charge:
Many thousands of dollars are lost
annually by both the farmers and the
seedmen of the northwest and Pacific
coast states, through the purchase and
use of inferior seeds. This loss is four
fold: First, through the purchase Of
seed of low vitality, or of seed contain
ing high percentages of worthless or
harmful impurities. Second, through
the resultant thin stand and poor crop
obtained for the same amount of labor
expended as for a good crop. Third,
through the seeding OF the land to
worthless plants or noxious weeds.
Fourth, through the loss Of business to
seedmen.
This widespread and heavy annual
loss has been due, partially at least, to
the fact that farmers and seedmen alike
have not had the means of easily and
accurately determining the termination
and purity of the seeds purchased and
used.
The seed laboratory of the bureau of
plant industry 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: G) The
identification of seeds of any kind.
I'D The examination of samples for
the presence of adulterants and dodder.
| (3) The testing of seeds for purity.
(4) Testing for termination.
The examination for adulterants or
dodder requires but little time and
will be given precedence over all other
work. All samples sent for this pur-
pose will be examined at once and re-
port sent by mail, or on request, by
telegraph, at the expense Of the re-
ceiver.
The test for purity requires the
Fseparation of the samples into three
parts-pure seed, foreign seed, and
dirt and chaf, and the determination
of the percentage by weight of each of
each of these three parts and identifi-
cation of the weed seed present. This
test requires considerable time and can
! be made only by experts. The facili-
ties of the laboratory will permit not
more than five such tests to be made
for any one firm or individual in any
calendar month. Purity tests will be
made and reports sent as promptly as
possible in the order in which samples
were received.
The test for termination is made to
determine the percentage of seed
which will terminate under favorable
conditions. The seed of cereals,
clovers and many vegetables can be
easily tested without the use of special
apparatus. Some seeds, however, in
Guiding a number of grasses, are more
difficult to test, requiring exact condi-
tons of temperature and moisture, and
considerable time.
Samples will be tested for germina-
ton in the order in which they are re-
ce!ved, and not more than ten tests for
termination will be made for any one
firm or individual in any one calendar
month. Following are directions for
sending samples:
/. All samples should be drawn SO
as to represent accurately the bulk
seed from which they are taken.
Q. The size Of samples should be a
tablespoonful for small seeds, such as
clovers and grasses, and five table
spoonfuls Of the larger seeds, such as
grains.
8. All samples should be marked
with the name and address Of the
sender.
4. A letter should accompany
sample, stating whether the seed is to
be tested for purity, for termination, or
for both, and the source of the seed.
| S. All samples and letters should
he addressed m the Seed-Testino