The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1912-03-07
SEED GRAIN FOR THE NORTH.
WEST.TEST YOUR SEED NOW
By PRor. THOMAS SHAW

HoMAs SHAW
for areas that are less dry. Professor
Porter'S farmers can furnish some
pure Sixty Day and Swedish Select
oats.
| GOOD SEED FLAX
!: This question is difficult, because of
the presence of the diseases known as
flax wilt. Those who want to invest
in wilt resistant flax, may be advised
by writing to Prof. Bolley of the ex-
pertinent station, Fargo.
But it should he remembered that
such flax is not necessarily wilt proof.
1t is simply wilt resistant. 1t has
much more power to resist wilt than
| other flax, hence it should be the aim
to SOW it if it can be obtained, and all
flax sown should be treated.
GOOD SEED CORN
That more than fifty Der cent. of
the corn that was set aside for seed
last autumn in the northwestern
states has lost it's terminating power
is most regretful fact. But it is a
fact. One result is that it has made
the price of seed corn abnormally
dear. 1t is all the more important.
therefore, that the seed shall be pur.
chased early and tested as to it's vi
ta]ity. The early maturing sorts.
as the small sweet ccrns, and the
dwarfish sorts like squaw corn and
the Gehu have the highest relative
germination, because of their earlv
ripening. But all seed corn should
be tested at such a time.
GOOD ALFALFA SEED
Good alfalfa seed is seed that is
clean, we'll matured, reasonably
bright in color and that has grown as
farnorth as the southern boundary
OF South Dakota. 1t it has been
grown further north it is even better.
Such seed is spoken of usually as
Northes1. Montana. 1t has nroved
itself sufficiently hardy. AS the sup
ply is less than the demand, it ought
to be purchased as soon as possible.
Nearly all western seedsmen located
northward can furnish such seed.
CLEANING SMALL GRAIN
Those who may not be able to get
better seed than they have, can do
much toward improving the character
OF such seed by careful tanning. Such
labor ought not to be grudged. It
Will pay we'll. Nearly all kinds of
weed seeds may thus be removed and
the same is true of all light kernels of
grain. All this should be done be.
fore the spring opens. For all such
work, now is the accepted time.
sPROUTED AND FROZEN GRAIN
In some places last autumn much
OF the grain was frozen before it was
ripe, and in other instances much Of
it sprouted while yet in the shock.
Let it be understood once for all that
frozen grain should not be planted
for seed. 1t will germlnate under
some conditions of freezing, depend
ing Oh the advancement of the graf
when frozen and OIL the severity of
the freezing. The same is true of
grain that has sprouted. Under some
conditions it may sprout again. But
III both cases the sprouts will be
weak. Such grain should never be
used for seed.
RUSTED GRAIN
In some parts of Dakota wheat was
injured considerably with rust.
Rusted grain doesnot make ii rst class
seed, when the grains are badly
shrivelled. But in nearly all such
grain some of the kernals will be but
little shrivelled. These will make
good seed. 1t is possible to get good
seed under such conditions by remov-
ing the more shrivelled seeds with
the tanning mill. Such separation
should be severe.
Where any doubt exists as to the
terminating quality OF seed it ought
to be tested. In no instances should
corn be planted without such testing.