REPORT OF FIELD AGENT, SEED IMPROVEMENT WORK. ^3 



first, to obtain desirable seed, and second, to keep it pure and 

 in good condition. 



The best way to obtain a good quality of good seed is to 

 make inquiries either at the Department of Agriculture, or the 

 Experiment Station at Orono, as to the varieties best suited 

 to your conditions. If you know the best varieties by experi- 

 mentation, that is sufficient, because even the best judgment 

 will not always be able to tell the right varieties to use from a 

 mere description of your conditions. 



When a farmer buys his seed from either the Experiment 

 Station or some reliable western seed house, he should demand 

 that he get the percentage of germination and purity; also, if 

 possible, the yield per acre. The yield serves as an indication 

 as to what he may expect. The cost of this seed will be more 

 than that of the ordinary seed, but it is worth more. 



After he once obtains a good variety of seed, he should take 

 all the precautions necessary to keep it pure and all of one 

 variety. Keep the weed seeds out; keep the seeds of other 

 varieties and cultivated crops out. Unless this is done, the 

 product of this good seed is not fit to use for seed again. 



A good fanning mill is one of the necessary implements 

 where grain is being raised. The farmer should not try to raise 

 grain seed without using one. but should clean the crop thor- 

 oughly and get every weed seed out. He should raise only one 

 variety of that crop on the farm, excepting potatoes and apples, 

 and be careful to keep that absolutely pure. If this is done he 

 will be able to get a larger yield per acre and get more money 

 per bushel for his product. 



The only times it is advisable to change seed are : 



1. When seed of a better and more serviceable variety than 

 that now being used can be obtained. 



2. When one variety becomes mixed with other varieties. 



3. When a crop becomes seriously damaged by reason of 

 unfavorable weather or other agencies. 



4. When seed is damaged by threshing or defective storing 

 methods. 



5. When suitable machinery is not available for cleaning 

 the seed properly. That means a fanning mill. 



Unless some of these conditions prevail it is not advisable to 



