The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-10-14
ESTABLISH GARDENS
FOR IDAHO SEEDS
B. f. SHEEHAN, AGRONOMIST
FOR u. OF l. EXTENSION
SERVICE GIVES FACTS

lliilObiiy, oiioiiR3 iSo NiN'N-t
clover and white clover in this state
These grades went into effect July 1
1919, and it is upon these grades
that all sales of the above mentioned
seeds shall be made.
The grades established are Extra
No. i; No. 1; No 2; No 8; and INC
Grade Any person, firm or cor
poration who sells or has in his pos
session for sale or distribution any
+ of the above mentioned seeds shall
have a label securely attached thereto
stating the grade of that lot of seed
Also, upon this label shall be the
name and address of person selling
the seed, name of grades and date
graded. the year anil locality in which
the seed was grown and the kinds and
number per pound of noxious weed
seeds contained in the seed.
Weed seed considered as noxious
under the new regulations are quack
grass, Canada thistle, buckthorn,
bracted plantain, poverty weed, dod-
der (any species), mustard (any
species), corn cookie, French weed,
night Towering catch fly, hoary cress,
blue lettuce, white cookie, perennial
sow thistle and wild oats.
Extra No. seed has to be pure as
to kind, clean, sound, plump, OF
bright and live color, free from the
seeds of any noxious weed and must
have a puritystest of 80 per cent or
above.
1t has been indicated that some con-
fusion is liable to result over the
establishment of an extra No. l
l. +l,n+ H. f.,x, will 1r,lr
he is obtaining seed of the best
quality in No. l. 1t should be re-
membered that Idaho produces
quality of seed which is excelled by
no other state in the union. The color
and plumpness of Idaho seed is better
than that produced in any other sec
ton of the country Dealers in the
east have for long time purchased
Idaho seed to blend with the poorer
quality of seed produced east Of the
Rockies. Seed of extra quality should
be graded accordingly and should re-
ceive price that such seed warrants.
Therefore, the establishing of an
extra No. l grade will enable Idaho
farmers to market extra quality seed
for premium.
Grade No. / should be clean, plump,
of good color and have purity test
of SO per cent or above. Seeds of al
falfa and red clover shall contain less
than eight of any or all noxious weed
seeds per pound and alsike clover,
white clover and timothy shall contain
less than Fl of any or all noxious
weed seeds per pound.
Grade No. 2 shall be clean, sound
and shall have a purity test of 81 per
cent or above. Alfalfa and red clover
shall contain less than Is noxious
weed seeds per pounds and alsike
clover, white clover and timothy shall
contain less than Al noxious weed
seeds per pound.
Grade No. 3 shall have a purity |
test of 95 per cent or above. Alfalfa |
may contain "a noxious weed seeds |
per pound, red clover %, alsike clover |
&c, white clover 88, and timothy $50.
mo Grade" seed is any seed that |
does not come within one of the first |
four mentioned grades. Such seed
cannot be sold in Idaho for seeding
but may be sold to clean
ing establishment to be cleaned and
graded.
The grades as established will give
the farmer more accurate and under
standable information regarding the
seed purchased for planting, making
it harder for seed companies outside
the state to ship in seed of poor
quality. Also farmers who cannot
readily sell their seed on the market
on account of poor quality cannot
shove it off on their neighbors for
good seed, as every lot sold must have
The grade on the tag no matter
whether it be dealer or farmer making
,he sale.
rood seeds and discourage those who
rave been profiting by handling an in I
erior product. The present producer
If poor seed will exercise more care
n the seed he purchases and the Gull
ural practices he follows. The farmer
Who is particular with his seed crop
will be paid for the pains he has
aiken. A premium will be placed
pom seed of exceptional high quality.
n many sections of Idaho poor seed
as sold at fabulous prices. Compe- /,
ition has been keen for Idaho seed I
nd there has been no great incentive
or the production of an extra quality 4
eed. Because of this condition, the
uality of Idaho seed has gone down
l the past few years and unless i'm
rebate steps are taken to raise the
urity, farmers of Idaho may soon !,
md it difficult to secure ready u
larket for their product. 9
Farmers should remember that the Is
ate maintains seed testing labora- IL
Try in Boise, where purity and germ 81
ation tests are made, free Of charge. D
callers are required to pay Is cents v
n each test. A branch laboratory h,
IS recently been established at Mos :
wv, where such tests are made. The :.
rmer should take advantage of this =
Id insure himself against the pur- a.
ase Of seed of poor quality tt
A remarkable record at the recent til
ate and interstate fairs Of the d.
orthwest was made by Fairfax 10th, OF