The Dickinson press., 1915-10-16
SEND YOUR SEED ALONG
TESTED FREE Of CHARGE

Farmers are gradually learning that
while proper systems of crop ro-
~tation, cattle raising, corn growing,
alfalfa growing, potato growing, etc.,
give great improvement in cereal
cropping, best results cannot be ex-
pected without the general use of
good seed.
Pure, disease free seed is primarily
essential. 1t is not worth while to
work hard to clean up the land, if
roadside weeds are allowed to go
to seed, and if one continues to sow
the weed seeds with the seed in the
drill. It is a surprising fact that
many farmers are yet sowing more
weed seeds than they kill by their
methods of cultivation. This state
ment applies to mustard, wild oats,
false flax, pennycress, tumbling
mustard, quack grass, practically all
can usually be overcome by proper
seed grading, provided n raises
good, plump seed. .
There r two features in cereal
cropping which are a persistent
drain on the results from better agri-
culture. One of these is the gradual
accumulation in the crop, due to
constant cropping on the same land,
of diseased seed, seeds which are in
ternally diseased with blights, such
as scab and various head and root
blights. To overcome these the
grower will have to recognize their
presence by the characteristics of
the seed. When a large percentage
of blighted heads appear in a crop
the grain is very likely to be of poor
quality to sow on clean land unless
it is carefully graded and purified by
d~isinfection before sowing.
The Pure Seed Laboratory was es-
tablished for the purpose of aiding
farmers to understand these matters,
and to help them to recognize seed
qualities. Citizens can send samples
of their seed to the Pure Seed Lab
oratory and receive immediate report
as to it's quality, purity and visabil-
ity, without cost. The botanist is
authorized to certify to the quality
of seed and to make lists Of those who
have seed of high quality. Such lists
are sent to any who wish to buy,
WnGJN6I S0CuSlllCll " IoI
In order that these lists may be
made out at as early a date as pos
sible, samples should be sent to the
Pure Seed Laboratory as soon as
possible after threshing. All who can
Should grade the seed carefully before
sending the samples to the Labora-
tory. When not able to clean the
seed let us know. Remember that
seed quality is of more value than
mere freedom from weed seeds.
Some samples Of seed can be greatly
improved by the use of a tanning
mill, while no amount of grading can
improve certain internally diseased
types. For this reason, it is recon-
mended that every farmer have a
seed plot big enough to raise seed for
his own farm, from which plot all
| false varieties and diseased plants
may be pulled out.
The wheat crop, in particular, sui,
fers severely from blights because OF
the use Of poor grades OF seed
| Wheat is the most important OF all
| the seeds grown in North Dakota
most important because more bushels
| of it are needed for seed and be-
| cause it is the chief crop of the
| state. A small deterioration in the
yield due to the use Of poor seed re-
suits in the loss Of millions of dol
lars. We wish to make the Labora,
tory of the greatest possible use, as
well to those who have good wheat
which they wish to sell for seed. as
to those who wish to find it. Whea!
Of another variety is the worst weeo
in wheat. "
/: Farmers who know that they have
raised a high quality of wheat which
is free from admixtures of Other
kinds of wheat should send in samp,
les at the earliest date possible thai
it may be listed and possibly certified
as. to quality. We r particularly
interested in listing any Durun
wheats which are free from common
wheats, as such admixtures are par,
ticularTy injurious to the making Of
all Durum products.
Address all such correspondence
packages, etc., to State Seed Com
missioner, Agricultural College, T. y.
| NJ. D.