in maturing and a smaller proportion than usual was selected for seed, and it was not as 

 dry or well matured as in an ordinary season. The quality by next spring will depend 

 largely on storage and weather conditions, but more care than usual will be required 

 both in storing and handling if the ensilage grower is to receive his seed corn in first 

 class condition. There is great danger of damage to the vitality through frost when 

 the seed is not sufficiently dry, and moulds are likely to develop when the weather 

 becomes warm or if the corn is not given sufficient ventilation in storage or during 

 shipment. The situation will demand the most careful attention on the part of all con- 

 cerned, and farmers are strongly urged to secure their seed early so that there will be time 

 to examine and test the germination before planting. Farmers would be well advised 

 to purchase their seed before the mild weather and to have it well dried by artificial heat 

 in their own buildings in order to lessen the danger of damage by mould. This would 

 also give them plenty of time to have germination tests conducted. 



Alfalfa — There was practically no alfalfa seed produced in Ontario in 1915, and the 

 crop in parts of the United States that are considered to produce hardy seed was very 

 limited. Most of the United States seed this year is coming from Texas and Arizona 

 and is not recommended for northern districts. In view of the extreme scarcity of 

 northern-grown seed, farmers are advised to be very careful about purchasing seed this 

 year with the idea of seeding down for a permanent crop. If only a mixture for hay is 

 desired, hardiness is not so essential. If a permanent stand is desired, only seed that 

 can be guaranteed in respect to variety and place of growth should be used. For this 

 purpose southern seed, which is largely on the market this year, will be sure to give 

 disappointing results. 



Red Clover — The Ontario crop of red clover seed last year was extremely short 

 and of very poor quality both in respect to purity and vitality. Most of the No. 1 seed 

 on the market this spring was grown in the Western States under irrigation. It is 

 large plump seed of good purity, but there is little information available in respect to the 

 suitability for Canadian conditions. The home-grown seed would probably be prefer- 

 able if it were equally good in other respects, and it is recommended that native 

 seed be used as much as possible, even though the grade be lower and it may be necessary 

 to sow a little more seed per acre on account of lower vitality. 



Alsike Clover — Much the same conditions prevail with alsike as with common 

 red ; although there is a greater quantity of Ontario grown seed, it is of rather poor general 

 quality. Much of the seed produced in the central part of the United States is somewhat 

 similar to the Ontario seed. The best appearing and highest grade seed being put on 

 the market this year is from the Western States. 



Timothy — The conditions of supply in respect to timothy seed are more normal 

 than with clover. Most of the seed is coming from the United States, and is perhaps 

 rather darker in colour and more hulled than usual. About the average quantity of 

 seed is available in Quebec, and some of this is above average quality. The Prince 

 Edward Island crop is about normal, and there is a limited quantity of seed available 

 in Alberta. 



Field Roots and Vegetables — Under normal conditions, most of our field root 

 and vegetable seeds are imported from the countries now at war. Owing to the accumu- 

 lation of large stocks previous to the outbreak of the war, there will probably not be 

 serious difficulty in supplying the demand for most kinds of seeds this spring, but 

 unless much more seed is grown in North America than usual this year ,the situation 

 may be serious for the spring of 1917. In 1915 quite a large number of farmers in the 

 different provinces grew root and vegetable seed on a small scale mostly for their own 

 use. In some cases quite large quantities are available for market. The results on the 

 whole were very satisfactory, and farmers are advised to adopt this practice more gener- 

 ally during the coming season in order to insure the supply of seed for 1917. 



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