The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1913-01-14
Will TEST SEEDS
FREE AT u. OF N.

The Agricultural experiment sta
tion at Reno is in a position to per-
form a new service for the agricul-
turists of Nevada by trying to pro-
tect growers from loss through the
purchase of bad seed. II has for
some time been the subject of more
than indefinite suspicion that Ne
vada was being made the dumping
ground for poor seed. By poor seed
is meant impure seed, lacking in vi
tality. Nevada has no large seed dis
tributing firm and the big percentage
of field and garden seeds used has
been ordered by catalogue through
the mail. The result of these con
ditions was only to be expected. Pre-
vented in their own states, by local
seed control legislation, from selling
poor stock, the firm, would naturally
welcome an opportunity to realize on
stuff that would otherwise be a dead
loss, and fguratively speaking, Ne
vada is the goat.
In the case of field seeds, where the
grower is ordering in quantity, he is
within his rights and is doing a sane
act if he demands samples before
purchasing. Or his order may state
definitely that he wishes only rea-
sonably pure seed of strong vitality.
Tn either case he should test the ger
mination power of the seed instead of
risking loss of time and crop by sow
ing without such test. He may test
at home in soil or boxes. Now he
may send a small handful in an en-
velope addressed to Agronomy de-
partment, Agricultural college, and in
two or three weeks report as to the
strength of his seed will be mailed
him without charge.
The test will be made in the fol
lowing manner: The station is pro-
vided with termination chamber
capable of testing at one time 96
samples in duplicate. In this cham
Der growth conditions of moisture
and temperature are maintained as
nearly as possible. A definite num-
ber of seeds Is counted out from the
sample sent for test and these seeds
are placed between folds of blotting
paper and laid in the perminator.
In four days count is made and the
number of seeds sprouted is recorded.
The sprouted seeds are removed and
further counts are made in seven, ten
and possibly fourteen days. The last
count lnu1cHftE tuf tpful HuHlntT IHdI
failed to germinate or, to put il the
other way. the total number that may
be called good seed. The four day
count is an important one also, in that
il indicates the quickness with which
the seed respond to growth con-
ditions. The whole is reckoned on
percentage basis.
A need for these tests exists For
q Il. L. of
seed actually sold and sown in Ne
vada have been made. The average
result to date has been 90 per cent
This would indicate that 81 per cent
of the seed sold here was no good.
Some of the samples germinated as
low as 26 per cent; one was so old
These tests win be continued all
winter, and report in the spring
would make interesting reading.
1t is not much trouble to enclose
small handful of garden or field seed
and mail it 20 the department, AID il
may save many dollars. Even if the
test is only on the few onion seeds
used for table use, it may save much
disappointment, even if the financial
less is small. And Nevada should be
n grand place wherein TO get rid of
old onion seed. Growers should avail
themselves of this free opportunity to
protect themselves Our neighbors
over the state lines are welcome also
to use our tests. The same invitation
is open to retail dealers who handle
seeds and who can thus ascertain the
quality of what they buy from whole
salers-what they offer to their Gus
tomers.-E. A. Howes, in U. of n.
Sagebrush