902 Rural School Leaflet. 



effort that counts. Our characters are not so much dependent upon 

 the things we accomplish as upon the things we attempt to do. Endeavor 

 earnestly put forth to contribute our share toward the improvement 

 of agricultural interests will be a marked factor in the development 

 of a character whether we achieve distinction in that line or not. 



Most farmers do not have any adequate conception of the importance 

 of improving plants and animals, if they think of 'the matter at all, and 

 the individual who persistently awakens their thoughts along this line 

 by his own work, or by his interest in social gatherings where such 

 questions are discussed, will soon take high place among his fellows. 

 When the children of our public schools come to an understanding 

 of the importance and the possibility of work along the line of improving 

 the things they work with, they will be much more interested in home 

 affairs and less inclined to seek the city a little later to get a job on the 

 street car. 



It is a fact now well recognized that there is educational value in 

 work done in discovering the secrets and moods of nature as well asi 

 in the modes and tenses of languages that have long ceased to be; 

 spoken. 



TESTING FARM SEEDS 

 Paul J. White 



For many reasons it is difficult to secure farm seeds of high grade. 

 Weed seeds in greater or less quantities are nearly always present in I 

 grass seeds, clovers, alfalfa, and the like. Many seeds are low in vitality, 

 caused by immaturity, improper curing, or age. Obviously it is very! 

 important for the farmer to know whether or not he is getting all he pays 

 for when he buys seeds. This, however, is of minor importance when 

 we add the entire or partial loss of a crop as a result of poor seeds. The 

 question becomes still more serious if the introduction of troublesome 

 weeds is also considered. A large number of our worst weeds have been] 

 spread into new territory among the useful plants. 



Farm seeds are tested for percentage of live seeds and for amount of I 

 foreign material, including weed seeds and inert matte- such as gravel, 

 sticks, and the like. It is impossible to find the exact percentage of 

 foreign matter in seeds without very delicate balances on which the true 

 seeds and the other seeds and inert matter may be weighed separately. 

 Usually a gram or more of the sample is taken and all foreign material 

 is taken out. The weight of this is found and subtracted from the total 



