The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-11-07

Now that farmers are preparing for
next years crop, the importance or
securing good seed Is a question that
looms large on the horizon. Accord
ing to bulletin issued by the Unit
ed States department of agi iculturc,
seeds are perhaps OF more importance
to the agriculture of this country than
anything else the farmer handles.
Nevertheless no subject on agricuI'
ture is of such relative Importance
as that of seed marketing.
The farmer is virtually interested in
this subject because in the cycle
around which seed go from the time
they are harvested until they are
planted he is both seller and buyer, o,
in other words, producer and ulti-
mate consumer.
II has been estimated that more
than $4,000 900, 900 pounds OF seea, ex.
elusive OF seed potatoes. seed sugar
cane and other vegetable planting
stocks are sown or planted annually
in this country.
Even u small improvement in the
quality OF seed planted would result
in larger crops a1lIttle or no expense
acreage.
Although soil and climatic Condl-
tions beyond the farmers control de-
termines to a large extent the quality
of seeds. small improvement can be
accomplished by means that are more
or less under his control.
Better threshing and hullins, re-
cleaning, etc, which will tend TO i'm
prove the quality OF the seeds should
be adhered to.
Better marketing methods make the
seed crop more profitable and tends
to recruit the ranks of the compara-
lively small number of farmers who
make a speciality OF growing field
seeds.
1t would not be advisable for TOO
many farmers to engage In seed pro
ductiOn because the supply OF seeds
for most agricultural crops is usually
eaual or slightly in excess of the
demand, many farmers who are rals'
ing seed could produce something else
more profitably, and much seed Is
produced that should never be sown
hut Is used.
The question has often been asked
why il II that every farmer does not
raise and plant his own seed, and
thereby save for himself the profit
others usually derive in selling him
seeds?
In answering this question tho de-
partment OF agriculture sets forth
the following reasons.
First, his fields may be foul with
noxious weeds
Second, soil, climatic and other con
ditions on his farm may be unfavor
able for seed production In given
year.
Third, altitude, latitude or rainfall
in his locality may preclude the
production OF u particular kind OF sect
In any year.
Fourth he may be able to buy better
seed at q lower cost than he can pro
duce In his locality.
Fifth, he may find II more prof
table to grow u crop or nay Io'
forage, than for seed production
Sixth, he may not have the facilities
for harvesting. cleaning, curing OF
otherwise preparing his seed for plant
ing purposes.
Seventh, he may need seed or
crop that has not been grown by nun
for several years, IL over at all
Eighth. he may have to replant his
fields either with the same Kind o.
seed, his supply OF which may have
been exhausted with the first plant
ing or with seed OF some catch crop
In general farmers obtain theii
seed from three sources. namely, IRON
their own farms, from other farmers
| or from dealers.
| The percentage which IN obt.,inet
| from these three sources varies con
sider,bly with the kind Of seed under
question and the locality where th'
seed is planted