ilu 



HORTICULTURE- 



July 2-1, 1909 



their results were often discordant and 

 wrought much confusion iu the trade. 

 That Association, at first Quite small, 

 uow includes most of the official agri- 

 cultural chemisis of the country; it 

 consideis all methods for the analysis 

 of fertilizers, feeds, food iH'oducts and 

 drugs; each year its members do a 

 large amount of co-operative investi- 

 gation work; they compare their work 

 from time to time by the testing of 

 identical samples and, as a result, the 

 work of official chemists in different 

 sections of the country yields much 

 more uniform and consistent results 

 than it did before and commands the 

 confidence of the trade. 



Now we propose the same kind of 

 work for the official seed analysts. We 

 shall, I hope, study the methods of 

 sampling seeds, for my experience of 

 more than thirty years convinces me 

 that correct sampling of any material 

 is as important and as difficult as — 

 often much more difficult— than the 

 work of analysis. To illustrate: Some 

 time since, a considerable quantity of 

 carrot seed, of which we found over 

 70 per cent germinated and which was 

 sold on that guaranty, was refused by 

 the purchaser, who found under 40 per 

 cent germination. On going into the 

 matter, it appeared that the pur- 

 chasers sample was taken from the 

 top of the package and contained, in 

 conseciuence, the lightest seed in it. A 

 sumple taKen after careful mixture of 

 the whole contents gave a test differ- 

 ing little from our own. 



We are studying the whole matter 

 of germination, the control of temper- 

 ature, the best material on or within 

 which the seed is to be placed to ger- 

 minate, the time limit of germination, 

 always with the object of making 

 every seed sprout which is at all capa- 

 ble of germination within any reason- 

 able time. 



The separation of the pure seed from 

 its own chaff and from all foreign 

 matteis, the identification of all for- 

 eign seeds, 'the detection of what are 

 to be considered adulterants, etc. — all 

 these things must be subjec:s of study 

 and discussion in this Association. 



It will also be competent for this 

 Association, after sufficient data have 

 been gathered, to determine for the 

 more important agricultural seeds the 

 limits of purity and of vitality; that 

 is, what shall be considered a satis- 

 factory degree or percentage of purity 

 in each and a satisfactory germinating 

 power. 



For planning and directing the work 

 of studying all these matters regard- 

 ing the testing of seeds, a committee 

 was appointed, consisticg of Mr. Eilgar 

 Brown, in chavgi} of the Se^d uabora- 

 tc.ry of the U. S. Departtiient of Agri- 

 culture; Prof. H. Garman, botanist of 

 the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment 

 Station, Lexington, Ky.; and Prof. A; 

 U. Selby, botanist of the Ohio Agricul- 

 vnral Experiment Station, Wooster, 

 Ohio. A considerable number oC seed 

 analysts are now engaged iu the co- 

 operative work and study which has 

 been suggested to them by this com- 

 mittee. 



In all these matters we need and I 

 know shall welcome any facts or sug- 

 gestions with which the American Seed 

 Trade Association or any of its mem- 

 bers may favor us. Our lelations 

 sWuild be most cordial. 



The feeling is perhaps not unnatural, 

 but certainly wrong, that an institu- 



tion or a society concerned with the 

 testing of the quality of any product i 

 is, ipso facto, in some sense hostile to 

 the producers or dealers in that ar- 

 ticle. Such a society should aim to 

 foster legitimate trade and fair com- 

 petition. To expose inferior goods or 

 fraudulent piactices is the work of a 

 friend and not an enemy. And if we 

 may have occasion to call attention to 

 what seem to us grave faults in the 

 methods of the seed trade, it is only 

 that in our view certain changes would 

 be to the advantage of both buyer and 

 seller. . 



The grower will not go on for long 

 buying seeds regarding the quality of 

 which he has no knowledge, in pack- 

 ages whose label calls attention to the 

 fact that all responsibility is dis- 

 claimed. He will insist on getting this 

 knowledge from some source. He will 

 trade only with those firms who give 

 what knowledge they can give as to 

 purity and vitality of seed. 



I cannot suggest how it is to be 

 secured, but I am convinced that in 

 time the seed trade will put itself into , 

 shape to give a statement as to the 

 purity and vitality of the leading agri- 

 cultural seeds, such as the grasses and 

 clovers, which they handle. 



The main points which I wish to em- 

 phasize are— that the testing of seeds 

 as a part of Control work in the in- 

 terest of farmers is being forced upon 

 us; that we are trying to secure uni- 

 formity and accuiacy in this work; 

 that we believe it will help and not 

 seriously embarrass legitimate trade, 

 and that we need and invite suggestion 

 and fair criticism from the members 

 of the Seed Trade Association. 



About Danish Root Seeds. 



We have received from Hjalmai- 

 Hartmann & Co.. the leading vegetable 

 seed growers of Denmark, a large 

 chart giving illustrations in colors of 

 the principal types of roots, showing 

 the standards of form and color which 

 the Danish government is encouraging 

 by establishing periodical competitions 

 between the large groweis of seed for 

 export, and awarding certificates for 

 "First Class Stock" to those firms who 

 excel. 



In an interesting letter Messrs. Hart- 

 mann say that formerly the root-seed 

 used in Denmark was imported from 

 Scotland and Germany. By experi- 

 ment it was ascertained that excellent 

 conditions for the produce of this kind 

 of seed prevailed in Dentnark, how- 

 ever, and it was" not long before the 

 government became interested in pro- 

 moting this home industry and the re- 

 sults were in all respects unexpected- 

 ly gratifying. By carrying out the pol- 

 icy above mentioned a constant im- 

 provement of quality is assured. The 

 government award is a very highly 

 prized and valuable acquisition for any 

 firm and there is constant, unremit- 

 ting striving for the honor. The com- 

 parative trials at the government ex- 

 periment station take cognizance not 

 only of beautiful typical form and 

 smoothness but also the percentage of 

 nutritive substance per kilo per Hectar. 

 The government's experiments have 

 proven that a first class stock of Dan- 

 ish seed — for instance, "Banes Slud- 

 strup stock" — yields an extra profit of 

 about 50 Kroner per Danish acre. It 

 is reported that all root seeds will be 

 scarce this year as the roots were bad- 

 ly damaged during the last winter. 



Everything "For the Land's Sake. ' ' 



The one firm in 

 Boston where all 

 good forms of plant 

 food may be ob- 

 tained, is the Bowker 

 Fertilizer Company, 

 opposite Faneuil 

 Hall at 43 Chatham 

 St. All greenhouse 

 chemicals. Nitrate of 

 Soda, Ground Bone, 

 Potash Salts, Sheep 

 Manure and Wood 

 Ashes can there be 

 had at first hands. 



BOWKER 



Everything "For the Land's Sake. " 



FERTILIZER 

 COMPANY 



GIANT PANSY SEED 

 The KENiLWORTH Strain 



is uusurptissed; the immense flowers of 3^ 

 to 4 iiiohes are of perfect form and sub- 

 stance; every tint and shade is produced 

 in strildng combination and endless varia- 

 tion of I)eautiful colors and markings; it is 

 the result of years of selection: it embraces 

 the l;i)-gest and best of English, French, 

 fiernian and American novelties; 1909 

 seed greatly Improved liy ricli shades 

 of brown, bronze, red and mahoganv. 

 New &eed; 1000, 25c; 2000, 40c; 6000, $1; 

 '.4 07.. $1.40; 1^ oz , $2.50: oz.. $o. 



RAINBOW is a blend of over 

 50 of the latf^st introductions of 

 giant pansies of the most 

 beautiful. gorg.»ous oolors 

 blotched, striped, veined, 

 marjcined, etc. With everv 

 $1.00 worth of Kenllworth 

 strain, I will send lOdO 

 of Rainbow free; and 

 wilh other amounts 

 iu like proportion. 





c 



AULIFLOWER S 

 ABB ACE 



LILV OP THE VALLEY PIPS. 



HJALMAR HARTMANN & CO. 



Longanesstraed* 20, 

 COP EWMACEH, DENMARK. 



O I« 13 K I« iV O ^KSZ 



French and Dutch Bulbs 



FOR FALL SHIPMENT 



Wholesale Price List mailed to Florists on 



application. 



Joseph Brecli & Sons Corp. 



4r-&4 HO. MARKET ST., BOSTON, MASS. 



Rothesay, Scotland. — Dobbie Sc Co., 

 the large seed growers, will remove 

 their headquarters to Edinburgh. 



