208 SEED STATIONS AND THEIR WORK. 



ation of grass seeds may be practiced without fear of detection. 

 It is probable that not one seedsman in twenty knows all the 

 species of grasses commonly used for permanent pastures, or the 

 seeds of the various species of grass seeds he sells." 



In 1877 the writer began testing seeds sold in this country, and 

 found many that were poor and unreliable, especially the more 

 uncommon grass seeds, most of which are imported. Grass 

 seeds vary much in weight, owing to the fact that they are 

 usually sold in the chaff, which is not always well filled. For 

 this reason it should always be bought by weight, remembering 

 that if dry, the heavier the sample, the less empty chaff it is 

 likely to contain. 



Concerning poor seeds Professor Shelton remarks: "The 

 difficulty experienced by farmers in securing good seed has been 

 a serious obstacle in the way of grass culture in Kansas. We 

 have reason to know that the complaint regarding the quality 

 of grass seeds retailed in the State is as just as it is universal. 

 The special cause of this trouble in Kansas seems to grow out of 

 the fact, that, as a rule, the trade in grass seeds is not a large 

 one as yet, anywhere ; and seeds which are not sold any one sea- 

 son, are carried to the next. In this way, seeds which were 

 originally good are badly damaged, or their vitality is totally 

 destroyed by being kept year after year in damp cellars and 

 mouldy warehouses. But more than this, seeds are often worth- 

 less in the start, from having never been properly matured, or 

 from injury received in the field or mow before threshing." 



Doctoring and adulterating and selling such seeds is worse 

 than selling 100 yards of cotton thread for 200 yards, or deceiv- 

 ing in the weight or cost of tea, coffee or sugar. The sale of 

 poor seeds affects the future crops as well as the present one. 



In German seed-stations the following kind of work is done: 

 determination of the species, the amount of impurities and their 

 nature, the germinating power of seeds, the total weight of the 



