The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1916-07-27
i';Rf SEED IN THE
>OlsTH WESTERN STATES
lBy Prof. Thomas Shaw,

II there is one need greater than
any other III the northwestern states
in relation to it's agriculture, it is the
need OF pure seed. This need isl
greater in the area referred to than
II many other parts Of the Unitec
States Tor the reason, first. that til
northwestern states are so exclusive
IS devoted to the growing OF grain.
and second, that it is much NOR
difficult to keep grains from mixing
in these states than in states where
the rainfall is greater. Because OF
the first reason, the mixing OF grains
will lead to serious loss. it allowed |
to go unchecked. The difficulty next
MENTIONED that is the mixing OF
grains by volunteering. is the out
come OF the dry conditions which
keep the shattered grain from
sproutirg from one year TO another
When conducting demonstration
work in these for the railroads. We |
Invariably tried to begin with pure
seed. Notwithstanding, the result
ant crop was seldom absolutely pure. |
Il grown on new land, the threshing !
brought i'll some admixture and it |
grown on older land, the admixture |
was further increased by volunteer |
grain.
The farmer is usually anxious to !
get pure seed. He is usually willing
to pay price for it higher than the
market price ii he is sure that the
seed is absolutely pure. By absolute
~ pure is meant absolutely true to
name and free from all admiXturc OF
other grains and weeds. II asked
where such seed can be obtained in
the northwestern states, l would
have to say that l cannot tell. From
the above the extent Of the opening
Tor growing pure seed will be appar
emit.
This work can be conducted with
| greatest success in cooperative
way and on new land. The reason for
cooperation lies in the fact that the
| grower or growers of pure seed
should have their own threshing ma
chine. New land will furnish soil
approximately free from foul weeds.
While the grower of pure seed may
be able to wrow more than one spec
les OF seed grain on the same farm
with success, he viii! probably sue
coed better by combining his atten-
ton to one species, and to one varie
ty OF that species. For instance, it
the seed grower begins with Turkey
Red winter wheat he should grow no
other seed than that variety of win
ter wheat. OF course he may ii he
so desires, grow some variety OF seed
flax. also seed oats an dseed barley.
but in such instances he will find al
least some difficulty from the mixing
CT these.
Of course il is essential that the
grower begins with absolutely pure
seed. To be quite sure OF this it may
be necessary for him to select heads
by hand in the matured grain This
is a very tedious process. but in the
end it will probably prove that the
line was Well spent. One peck OF
grain thus selected and soWn on gooC
land and we'll prepared, will in an
average year grow enough OF seed to
SOW about ten acres. The first seed
soWn would not, Of course, furnish
.tny for sale. The second year
very large amount could be sold. 1t
does not take long therefore, TO get
started in this business. AS a safe
guard it would be we'll to treat for
| 1til W III tue ltlf9t " "il9tit, Glii lOl
| wilt in the case of flax.
This does not mean that it would
not be possible to obtain seed abso
putelv pure from some grower when
commencing this work, but it doe
man that it is greatly important to-
he absolutely sure that the founda@
ton seed is free from all impurities,
1t here ar comfy a few grains OF adj
mkt TIRE by some other variety, these
viii continually increase. II that in
crease We're unchecked, the time
would come when that other variety
would form halt the crop, provid
ing the inheritent vigor OF the two
varieties is equal.
Once started with pure seed, the
work of keeping it pure is relatively
easy, providing the grower uses his
| own threshing machine. But should
the admixture at the first be even SO
slight with some othe variety Of the
same species. it is scarcely possible
to separate completely these varieties
afterwards. Here then is sure and
profitable line OF work for many
growers. Who will be the first to
take it up?