1904.] Canadian Seed Growers' Association. 281 



experiments which have been carried out, concludes with the 

 observation that the life of a seed is undoubtedly dependent on 

 many factors, but the one important factor governing the 

 longevity of good seed is dryness. 



In the case of the Aberdeenshire experiments the relationship 

 between the duration of exposure to moisture or bad weather 

 and the vitality of the seed was shown by the fact that samples 

 of seed in the stook for three weeks in rainy and misty weather 

 germinated 40 per cent., after four weeks in the stook the 

 germination was only 33 per cent, and after five or six weeks 

 it fell to 29 per cent. The American bulletin also observes 

 generally that seed harvested in damp, rainy weather is much 

 weaker in vitality than seed harvested under more favourable 

 conditions. This seems supported by the fact that seeds from 

 oats grown in Aberdeenshire germinated 63 to 73 per cent., 

 while seed from the same variety grown in Cambridgeshire, 

 one of the dryest districts in England, germinated 91 to 92 

 per cent. 



A meeting was held at Ottawa in June last for the purpose of 



establishing the Canadian Seed Growers' Association. The 



object of this association is to encourage 



Canadian ^ e o- enera i use of improved seed, with a 

 Seed Growers' . c . . , . . . , 

 Association. view 01 improving the yield and quality of 



the field crops of Canada. It is a volun- 

 tary organisation, but the President is to be appointed by the 

 Minister of Agriculture, and the Chief of the Seed Division of 

 the Department is to act as Secretary. The association pro- 

 poses to promote the interests of seed growers and farmers by 

 making regulations respecting the growth, selection, and pre- 

 servation of seeds for the guidance of its members ; by causing 

 records to be kept of seeds produced ; by fixing standards for 

 seeds eligible for registration ; and by issuing certificates, of 

 registration to members by which selected seeds or their 

 product may be known. 



In this connection the Canadian Farmers' Advocate observes 

 that there is an opportunity in every agricultural locality in 

 Canada for a few farmers to make a speciality of growing high- 



