46 The Bullethst. 



SUBMITTING SAMPLES. 



When sending seed to be tested it is ini])orl:nit that the sample fairly 

 represents the bulk from which it is taken. It would be helpful in 

 securing an accurate sample if the following directions Avere followed: 

 The contents of the package, bag, or barrel should be mixed thoroughly 

 with the hand and arm ; take several handfuls from various parts of the 

 package, top, middle, and bottom; mix these well together and take a 

 part of this mixture for the sample. For a fair sample the following 

 amounts of the various seeds should be sent ; of the smaller seeds, like 

 red-top, timothy, and red clover, about four tablespoonfuls is a sufficient 

 amount, and of the larger seeds, as oats, wheat, and vetch, about a cupful 

 is necessary. 



Samples shuuld be sent by mail, securely wrapped to prevent leakage, 

 and the following information should accompany all samples: !N'ame 

 and address of wholesale and retail dealer, retail price, and name and 

 address of sender. There is no charge for making tests. Address all 

 samples to the Seed Laboratory, Xorth Carolina Department of Agricul- 

 ture, Ealeigh, N". C. 



Tobacco seed will also be cleaned for the farmers of the State, and it 

 is highly desirable for all tobacco growers to have their seed cleaned, as 

 the plants from cleaned seed are more vigorous and uniform in size, 

 come on earlier and more nearly at the same time, and the yield and 

 profit of the crop is materially increased. One Xorth Carolina farmer 

 writes us that the crops from cleaned seed in his neighborhood were 

 50 per cent greater than the crops from uncleaned seed. A vertical air- 

 blast seed separating machine, equipped with an adjustable gauge, so that 

 any desired strength current may be obtained, is used for cleaning the 

 seed. Xo charge is made for doing this work. 



POOR AND ADULTERATED SEED. 



In agriculture there are often unavoidable losses, but the loss and 

 disastrous results occasioned by jjlanting poor seed is Avithin the control 

 of the purchaser, and the serious effects of such an oversight cannot be 

 too strongly emphasized. The difference in the price of cheap low-grade 

 seed and high-priced good-grade seed should be no consideration what- 

 ever, as even the sum paid for the poor seed is often an entire loss, but 

 this is sliglit in comparison wiili the loss of time and labor, the failure 

 to oblain a crop, and the introduction of noxious weeds upon the land, 

 often to such an extent that the production of certain crops is interfered 

 with or made im])ossiblc; for instance, wild mustard on wheat land. 

 All of tlie.«;e losses are caused by planting i^oor seed. 



Seeds arc ])oor for a nunihiT of reasons: h>w vitality, due to age; 

 innuatiirity or inipi'opcr conditions of harvesting and storing; impurity, 

 due to the presence of othei- commercial seeds than those of the sale 

 name, weed seeds, quartz ]iarticles sifted to the proper size, and other 



