3c July. 1911-] St't<^h and Seeding. 47X 



growers go so far as to remo\e, from time to time, the weaker capsules or 

 buds on tlie bunch in order to send all the strength possible into those 

 left. 



Do not be disappointed if the leaves taken from the seed plants are 

 not as good quality as those taken from topped plants. They are never 

 so good, owing to the fact that the effort to mature the seed has robbed the 

 leaves of some of their virtues. 



When the seed pods have all turned brown, and are thoroughly dry, 

 the seed can be threshed out by rubbing the pods between the palms of 

 the hands over a sheet of paper. The seed should then be put through a 

 fine sieve and the fine chaff blown away. Each pod should contain from 

 1,000 to 4,000 seeds. When thoroughly dry, the seed should be placed in 

 Mason, or other jars, and the lid screwed tightly down. Each jar should 

 be labelled with the variety and date of saving, and kept in a dry situation. 

 Blowing machines are used for separating the light seed from the heavy. 

 The latter is just as desirable in tobacco as any other crop. 



Tobacco seed weighs 35 lbs. per bushel. One farm in America pro- 

 duces from 100 to 125 bushels per annum, the vield per acre being 

 about 4 bushels. 



To test the vitality of tobacco seed, sow thinly on a piece of dark 

 woollen cloth and moisten the whole, then fold the cloth and keep in a 

 warm situation and moisten with warm water from time to time. In nine- 

 days the sprouts will show if the seed is good. A further test is to drop 

 a little seed on a hot piece of tin or iron ; if good, the seed will pop ; if 

 dead, will burn. An experienced man can tell by rubbing the seed on the 

 palm of the hand ; if too old the seed will crumble, but if good will roll 

 without breaking. 



{To be continued ) 



SEEDS AND SEEDING. 



{Continued from page 410.) 

 L. Macdonald, Horticidturisi. Dookie Agricidiural College. 



Germination. 



In preparing land for the reception of seed, due consideration should 

 be given at the outset to the three cardinal requirements of all our agricul- 

 tural seeds, viz. : — (i) Warmth; (2) m.oisture ; (3) air. Preparation tillage 

 will always play an important part in the partial regulation of these 

 elements. Although unable to control climatic conditions, the farmer or 

 gardener who exercises good ju<lgment may, to a greater or lesser extent, 

 avoid the disabilities of unfavourable climatic conditions. 



Warmth is controlled easily enough under cover, and in the field is 

 influenced by good drainage and tillage. Tillage should always be 

 designed, as far as possible, to suit, not only germination and subsequent 

 growth, but also the seasons. As a rule, the land should be better prepared 

 for simimrr crops than for autumn or winter sowings. If the seed bed is 

 left rough for summer sowing, moisture will evaporate reailily. and thr 

 seed lying in the large interstices will In? likely to dry out : while a well 

 broken surface mulch will retard evaporation and the seed will obtain th«- 

 l)enefit of con.served moisture. ^\'ith tho.se soils that are lacking in humus, 

 very fine tillage in autumn or wintt^r is often followed by dire rt-sults. 



