Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-03-06

neighbors become dealers under the
law and must have the seeds tested,
Farmers who sell seeds In bulk to
dealers do not have to test the seeds,
but the dealer must do so.
The law also requires the payment
of fee of % cents for each test and
that amount should accompany every
sample sent in for examination.
The seedman must necessarily
charge more for his seeds where he
lives up to the Law. both because the
better grades of seed are higher priced
and because Of the labor necessary to
bring seeds up to the necessary stand
ard. The farmer on the other hand
can afford to pay higher prices for
seed which he knows to be free from
noXious weed seeds and which has
high terminating power Glover seed
terminating 100 per cent may be
worth $40 per 100 pounds, but if it ger
inmates only GO per cent. 1t is worth
to the farmer but $l2 per 100 pounds,
and the loss does not end with the
poor seed A poor stand of hay re
suits and only 60 per cent, of hay
crop is secured. Seeds that give
low test in vitality and do not produce
strong, vigorous plants The sale of
such seed is an injury to the farmer
and hurts the trade of the seedsmen.
Dealers and farmers are urged to
send in samples early and not wait
until time to use the seed. 1t is i'm
possible to make termination test
on any seed in less than three days
and many grass seeds require from
Ia to 2S days for satisfactory test.
Sufficient time must be allowed for
making the test.
All seeds purchased from dealers
outside the state are bought at the
purchasers risk. Farmers should in
sist that outside dealers make their
seeds conform to the standards set in
the Wisconsin law. In no other way
will our farms be freed from the heavy
taxes imposed by weed growth.
~~~~-~~o-~~ -~~~~~
the stem end, the tuber may be used,
provided such discolored part is cut
off and rejected
All seed should be disinfected in
order to destroy germs of the scab
and black leg diseases which may be
carried on the surface of tubers TAX
en- from diseased crop, even though
these tubers are themselves smooth
| and healthy.
Seed tubers from fields not known
to be free from disease, and from un-
known sources, especially If from the
east, should also be disinfected. In
any case, it is simple, inexpensive
and harmless precautionary measure
There are two standard methods both
using formaldehyde (also called for
malin).
The first is soaking the seed tubers
for two hours in solution Of one
part formaldehyde to $40 parts of wa
ter q pint to 80 gallons) This same
solution can be used repeatedly with
out losing its strength, This is the
best method for ordinary potato
growers
Fumigation is the best method OF
disinfecting a large quantity Of po-
tatoes. Place them in a room that
can be closed air-tight, arranging
them in shallow layers not over six
inches deep on shelves or trays with
Slated bottoms. Calculate the cubic
contents of the room, and for each
1000 cubic feet use 23 ounces of
potassium permanganate and three
pints Of formalin. Place the potas-
stun permanganate in a shallow lay
er in the bottom OF pail or tub. Set
this in the middle OF the room at
least three feet from the nearest po-
tatoes, see that no potatoes stand
Immediately above, and pour the for
malin over It, Quickly close the
room airtight and leave 1t closed
twenty-four hours or longer These
fumes are irritating to the eyes and
nostrils, but not actually poisonous,
hence one runs no risk In the opera
ton.