. CHAPTER IV 

 SEEDS AND SEEDING 



NOTHING is more important than the seeds, as to quality 

 and name, in the growing of a crop. The best of land and 

 preparation and the best effort in tillage may bring small 

 return if the seed is not good, clean and true to name. 



56. Quality. The quality of seeds depends on various 

 characteristics, especially genuineness, purity and via- 

 bility. Other points of more or less importance are age, 

 size, plumpness, color, weight per bushel, source of 

 seed and in some cases freedom from insects and such 

 diseases as smut. Among the legumes the percentage of 

 hard seeds is also to be considered. 



The determination of the actual quality of the seed 

 requires special knowledge and experience. In the first 

 place the sample must be representative of the bulk. The 

 other seeds present either as impurities or adulterants 

 should be identified to prevent fraud and to avoid intro- 

 ducing noxious weeds. Finally, many forage seeds 

 especially grasses require much care and special 

 apparatus to secure a fair test of germination. 



For these reasons, most forage crop seeds should be 

 purchased under guarantee, or a sample secured first, 

 to be referred to a seed laboratory. 



57. Genuineness. By this term is meant the trueness 

 of the seed to name. As most forage crops do not contain 

 special varieties, this is readily determined by comparison 



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