The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-01
HEALTHY SEED ESSENTIAL.
THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEM IN
MAKING A WHEAT CROP.
Government Crop Experts Advises
Farmers to Exercise Great Care in
Selecting Seed for Their Wheat
Crop.

Washington, Aug. 28-Sound,
clean. healthy seed is the first re-
quisite for the largely increased wheat
crop which the United States De-
partment Of Agriculture hopes to see
harvested next year. Whatever the
source Of supply farmers will find it
to their advantage, says the depart
ment. to see that only good seed is
planted. What has beer said is
equally true of seed for tn. rye crop
which the department hopes to see
much larger than usual next year.
If farmer has seed from his own
crop which is satisfactory so far as
variety and general condition are con-
cerned, he should lose no time in get
ting it into shape for storage until
planting time. The tanning mill is
the farmers best friend in this task.
The farmer, by all means should have
such a mill and if he has not and is
unable to btain one, should borrow or
rent his neighbors mill, or several
farmers can join in buying one. A
tanning mill removes weed seeds.
smut and shriveled grain and leaves
only plump kernels, practically ev-
cry one of which may be depended
upon to produce a thrifty plant. At
ter 1t is cleaned. however. the seed
should be treated in order that the
smut may be prevented. Scab is less
likely to be prevented by seed treat
ment, but the use of the tanning mill
will assist materially in improving
the crop grown from seed known to
have contained scabby kernels.
If the farmer is dependent on out
side sources for his seed he should
buy from his neighbor if possible so
that he may be more likely to get
seed we'll adapted to his conditions.
1t is advisable to buy as soon after
harvest as possible as at this time
prices are likely to be lowest. If the
farmer delays, his neighbors may dis
pose of all their surplus grain and he
may be forced to plant seed grown
under conditions radically different
from his own. If the farmer patron
ICES scotsman he should insist on
getting seed grown as near his section
as possible.
If seed is affected by diseases care.
ful inspection will usually disclose the
ract. The presence of sinking smut
IN wheat is indicated by the odor and
the presence of scab by the appear
ance of the kernels. Purchased seed
should. Of course, be cleaned and
treated for the destruction of the
spores of disease producing fungi, il
the examination shows this to be nee
essary.
In choosing varieties of wheat the
FARMER should be guided by the OK
periences Of his neighbors and the
adVice of his State Experiment Sta
ton. This is true also of rye, but
there are available fewer varieties of
rye than of wheat. The stations can
furnish comparative statistics on the
yields and behavior of number of
varieties of the two cereals.
After the grain farmer has pro-
cured a supply of satisfactory seed
he should store it carefully SO that
1t Will keep in good condition and
Will be safe from the depredations Of
rats mice and insects. Bins which
are supposedly rat proof are avail
able on practically all farms and II
will pay farmers to see that thev are
Kept in good condition to keep out
the rodents.