140 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



seed of the same character as the larger seed have proportion- 

 ally more surface than the larger, consequently the small as 

 well as the light seed is removed by this machine. 



This seems to be the most satisfactory way of separating 

 seed that has j^et been devised, and no doubt some shnple, 

 inexpensive instrument modelled from this device will soon 

 be available for every farmer and seed grower. The partic- 

 ular advantages of this method seem to be that this device is 

 adaptable to all kinds of small seeds, the only adjustment 

 needed being in the regulation of the amount or force of air 

 sent through, and that by this method the seed is separated 

 according to weight. 



In conclusion, we believe it desirable with many kinds of 

 garden seeds to separate the seed and discard all except the 

 large, well-developed, mature and heavy seed, because : — 



First. — About 33 per cent, of seeds as placed on the 

 market consist of dirt, chaft', and small, undesirable seeds. 



Second. — Small or light seeds do not germinate well, and 

 their seeds produce only poor, small, undesirable plants, 

 which prove inferior in every way. 



Third. — Heavy seeds produce healthy, large, well-devel- 

 oped plants, that will give maximum ci'ops. 



FourtJt. — Seed selection or sei)aration is an inexpensive 

 process that gives good results. 



Asparagus Rust. 



The past summer in most parts of Massachusetts has been 

 an extremely dry one, and especially favorable, as was early 

 anticipated, to an early and severe attack of asparagus rust. 

 The confinement of the rust, or at least its injurious stage, 

 to special localities has been the same this season as in other 

 years ; in other words, it has been confined to soils espe- 

 cially coarse, and easily aftected by drought. 



Since 1896 there have been about three severe outbreaks 

 of the rust in this State, such outbreaks being identified 

 \vitli a dry summer, or at least with seasons where there 

 have existed long periods between rainfalls. The fall or 

 teleuto stage, however, has been present every year since 



