Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 137, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 June 1913 — IMPORTANCE OF GOOD SEED TO OUR FARMERS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

IMPORTANCE OF GOOD SEED TO OUR FARMERS

By G. M. FRIER,

In Charge of Short Courses and Exhibits,

Purdue University Agricultural Extension.

Much seed that is distinctly inferior In quality is bought and used in Indiana. At times in many localities it is impossible to get good seed. Again many are not able to recognize the common and bad weed seed impurities of commercial small seeds, nor are they able to make useful tests of small seeds —tests that Will determine their value as far as purity and germination at least are concerned. There are still, too, those who do not appreciate the value of strictly high-class seed. Fortunately for Indiana agriculture, more farmers each year are studying the matter of good seed vs. ordinary seed, to the selection and preparation of which little thought and care is given. The truth of the statement often made to our farmers, that poor, low-grade seed is dear at any price, is being plainly demonstrated every year at Purdue experiment station and on well-managed farms at many places In the state. Those who have studied the influence of good seed on crop production, and have become very careful as to the seed they use, are satisfied that It pays, and pays handsomely, to select the most suitable varieties of field crops, and then to purchase only high-grade seed, or if home-grown seed is used, to take great pains in cleaning, grading or other preparation necessary to make it strictly high class Following are the main characteristics of good seed: 1. Freedom from weed seeds —Canada thistle, dodder, wild garlic, buckhorn, red sorrel, etc. The use of lowgrade seed is in part responsible for the weed situation as we have it in Indiana today. Weeds cause Indiana farmers a loss of over $15,000,000 a year. 2. Freedom from inert matter —Grit, chaff, broken straw, etc. Some seed

contains a high percentage of this. AJ farmer cannot afford to pay clover 1 seed prices for weeds seeds and trash. 3. High germination power—Seed is of little use unless it will give a good stand of strong plants. Seed that is very old, immature, damaged in storage, etc., cannot give a good stand. Good satisfactory germination tests should be made of farm seeds to determine their viability. 4. Good size and color —Seed should be plump and have the characteristic color well developed. Plump,’ bright seed is likely to be seed of strong vitality. Valuable information concerning both weeds and weed seeds may be' had from the following: Farmers’ bulletins Nos. 194,260, 28; 306 and 428, obtainable from Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.; bulletin 175, from Director, Agricultural Experiment Station, Wooster, Ohio; bulletin 38, from Director, Experiment Staton, Reno, Nev.; bulletins 260 and 267, from Director, Experiment Station, East Lansing, Mich.; circulars 31 and 32, from Director, Experiment Station, Lafayette, Ind. It would certainly be profitable as well as interesting for farmers interested in weed control and small seed improvement to make a careful study of weeds and weed seed impurities of commercial small seeds. The botanical department of Purdue experiment station will name any weeds sent In at any time, while the agricultural extension department of Purdue university will name any weed seeds or other seeds sent in for naming. The extension department will also make purity or germination tests of seeds for any desiring this help. Demand high-grad* seed and know whether or not seed offered is really high grade befor* buying.

Why Not Learn to Test Seeds at Home?