SEED AND SEED SELECTION 3 1 



cent of germinability in five years. W. P. Headden 

 (Colorado BuL No. 35) after various experiments 

 declares, "the results are positive in showing that the age 

 of seed up to six years does not affect its germinating 

 power." It is usually handled and stored by seedsmen 

 in the ordinary seamless cotton sacks holding from 150 

 to 160 pounds, and quoted and sold by the pound or 

 hundred-pounds instead of by the bushel. The legal 

 weight of a bushel of recleaned alfalfa seed is sixty 

 pounds. 



Although the seed is handled in sacks for convenience, 

 seedsmen say there is no good reason why it might not 

 be safely stored in bulk in bins without any deterioration 

 from heating, or otherwise. There might, however, be 

 some degree of danger from weevils or other insect 

 pests in warm weather. Exposed to too much light, seed 

 will lose its bright yellow color and change to a brownish 

 cast. When stored, dealers say, it does not go through a 

 "sweating" process as do the seeds of some other forage 

 plants and grasses. 



IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF SEEB. 



In years of large production in America and a short- 

 age in other countries, considerable American seed goes 

 abroad to Italy, France, Germany and Australia. The 

 largest portion is consigned to Germany because exten- 

 sive seed houses at Hamburg act as distributers to all 

 portions of the world, from which they receive demands. 



In recent years the United States has been a buyer 

 rather than a seller, and imports have been as follows : 



Year. Lbs. 



1902-3 i.oi8,S59 



1903-4 .2,200,267 



1904-5 • • -2,865,324 



