The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1922-08-17
SIXTY FARMERS HEAR
SEED EXPERT LECTURE
Buckthorn, Marshelder and Al
falfa or Sweet Clover
Mixtures

who is secretary of the Western
Seed Growers Marketing Company
sales agent for the Idaho and Utah
cooperative seed growers associ-
ations, speak on clover seed grow
ing and the grading and marketing
of it.
| The gentleman has had wide
experience in the seed line and is
familiar with production problems
over a number of states and under
varied conditions. He is familiar
with Malheur soils and climatic
conditions from several years OBJ
servations and is\very positive that
this section is a superior clover seed
country, capable of producing high
yields and superior quality. He
believes that clover is more profit
able than most of the crops now be-
ing rown by the majority of the
farmers.
The speaker dwelt at length on
the absolute necessity of avoiding
the common mistake of over half Of
the farmers in Idaho---that of plant
ing foul seed which will Immediate
ly lower their grade and render
their land almost permanently un-
fit for the production of high grade
seed because of the weed seed living
in the land for years afterwards.
He cautioned particularly against
| dodder, saying that 33 states in the
Union now make it unlawful to sell
seed containing dodder and that the
price of clover containing even
little dodder is certain to be much
less than pure seed. He also men,
toned buckthorn as very serious
weed and advised growers to be-
ware of foxtail, watergrass, marsh
elder and mixtures of alfalfa and
sweet clover. "Trust no seedmen
whatever, but always have state
test of the seed you buy before you
put it in the ground. This will cost
you nothing but two cent stamp
to send a sample to your seed
laboratory at Corvallis or to the
Idaho Seed laboratory at Boise..,
Then you are safe, but If you buy
without the test you may have an
experience like a man who bought
seed last fall from dealer who said
it was pure and 1t later turned out
to contain $4,000 dodder seeds per
pound after having passed up seed
offered by another dealer who was
honest and informed the farmer
that it contained IL dodder seeds
per pound, said the speaker.
"If you have dodder In your
field, then the only thing to do is to
get in there at once and cut 1t out,
pile it on the spot and burn it as
soon as dry" Care should be TAX
en- to get all of the tendrils as they
are often spread out farther than
will be noticed. II even small
piece is left it will grow and make
large patch in the field before
harvest. A little straw or kerosene
will help to do the burning. Ger
tain weeds such as China lettuce |
and pig weeds are not serious, as |
their seeds can be separated from
the clover quite readily.
The speaker advocated fall seed |
ing as the most successful practice
for this section. This Is accom-
plished by drilling 8 to 10 pounds
of seed per acre with double dies
drill into clean. grain stubble dur
ing the month of August and irri-
eating 1t up by the first of Septem-
Der. Some very goods stands have |
been secured by seeding up to the
goth of September. but earlier seed
ing is best as 1t gives the plants
time to make strong growth in the
fall.
The first season after planting, a |
crop of hay can be taken in June |
and a crop of seed In September.
The second season, the first crop
SnOulu DC TAKEN IOI Secu anu eho
second again for seed II 1t makes.
Otherwise 1t may be used for hay,
pasture, or the land plowed for fall
wheat. 1t is considered advisable
to delay irrigation somewhat the
first spring In order to force the
plant to root deeply, water being
applied when the plants begin to
show need of It by whiting in the
afternoon and as needed thereafter
to produce a good crop Of hay. After
the hay crop is cut 1t is also consid-
cred advisable to delay irrigation
until new growth has
started, whereupon a soaking irri-
CATION should be given. II needed,
the water should be run lightly
over the field when the plants are
in full bloom and another light ir-
.tcattou u,haa tho aaad IA filling |