The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-07-09
INSPECTION OF
FIELD CROPS
STATE SEED COMMISSIONER Dis
cussEs FIELD CROP INsPEc-
TON IN THE STATE OF NORTH
DAKOTA IN THE FOLLOWING
ARTICLE.

Chapter 239 Of the session laws of
1913 authorized the pure seed labora-
tory to do field crop inspection work
for any OF those farmers who expect
to grow seed for sale for sowing pur-
poses" writes Prof. H. Il. Bolley of the
A. G.. 1T fixes the regulations under
which this field inspection can take
place and arranges standards under
which the state seed commissioner may
authorize the sealing of such high,
grade seed under lead seal, attached
to which will be a tag showing the
name of the grower, address. purity
and quality of the seed.
1T authorizes the state seed COM
missioner to make such other rulings
and regulations as will safeguard the
proper sealing and standardization OF
such seed.
1T arranges for two grades of such
high class sealed seed. Cd Certified
or improved seed, and, az pedigreed
seed. 'Pedigreed' seed must be of only
one variety and essentially free from
weed seeds, Improved or Certified
seed must be of sufficient high quality
to meet all the requirements of the
pure seed law.
"The method which the laboratory
is taking at present to find u wheth-
er it is justified in sealing or certify
ing, consists in visiting the field while
the grain is in head to ascertain what
varieties are present. BY this means
it is possible to know whether this
seed can or cannot be properly clean
ed to meet the requirements of the law.
20. The seed is examined in the seed
laboratory to- ascertain it's growing
powers and to ascertain what seed is
present when the grower is ready to
seal it. Nothing but high quality seed
will be sealed. When such seed is
sealed it will be a standard product, in
two bushel bags, which may go through
the hands of any number Of buyers or
salesmen,s and~yet reach the final
planter in such condition. that he viii
know 1T was the kind of. seed grown
by the original grower. This will very
greatly aid both the grower or mer-
chant or middleman, who want to
handle high class seed.
"The field inspector can also be Of
much advantage to the grower while
at the farm, giving him instruction
regarding various matters, such as
| helping him to identify various noxi-
Gus weeds. Our men are instructed to
| give all the information possible.
1.-THE enactment carried an ap-
preparation for special aid for this type
of field crop inspection, but it is m
! of the appropriations that Governor
Hanna found necessary to veto in
order to keep within the of
the state. However, / have investi-
gated the costs in the matter, and
| find we will be able to carry on a e
| sonable amount of this work, at least
| start it, if those who wish to AVE seed
sealed are willing to meet the inspec-
tor at their railway station and bear
his expenses in getting to n from
the fields which they wish to inspect.
ANY farmer who thinks he has high
quality seed and would like to have
this work done. preparatory to having
it sealed, should write me at once.
| giving the number of acres, distance
from railway station. the kind of grain
he wishes inspected, and such other
information as will allow us to plan
the trips of the field inspectors.
"The bronze grass fields are now
ready for inspection. and barley will
soon be ready. There is a big demand
for bronze grass seed free from ouack-
grass. Bronze grass is one of u
most valuable grasses. The law does
not allow the. sale of bronze grass con-
tanning quack grass. 1t is therefore of
the greatest Importance to have the
field inspected now. so that one can be
certain before cutting the grass
whether it can be sold or not. The
laws of Minnesota, Wisconsin and
Iowa also prohibit the sale of any seed
containing quack grass.
Nov is the time to think of saw
ing the seed which you intend to sell
or use for sowing purposes another
year. Make arrangements to- save it
dry so that il. will have q. high vitality.
Make arrangements to save it pure SO
Ethat it will be acceptable under any of
the state laws. Get ready to seal
early. No seed will be sealed after
March 1|of ZACH year.