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I think I am light in asserting that very few of our landowners have cultivated 
any considerable number of tiees for timber. In the northern hemisphere this 
practice is well established, and it is a matter well worthy of consideration, by many 
of our country people, to what extent the planting of trees will afford profitable 
employment fov capital and land. At the same time, as a very general rule, I adheie 
to my often-expressed view that we require conservation, much more than fresh 
planting, in New South Wales. 
Testing of seeds. This is a subject which is worthy of special emphasis in 
connection with forestry. (We have now a small seed-control station in the Botanic 
Gardens, in connection with our Department of Agriculture, where agricultural seeds 
may be tested as to name, germinating power, and purity.) The germinating power 
of seeds is, of course, of paramount importance to the farmer and forester. Not only 
do seeds vary considerably in the length of time they may be safely kept before 
sowing, but there is often much variability in seeds in the same parcel through 
admixture and other causes. I cannot do justice to this subject on the present 
occasion, but I venture to refer to two excellent papers, which will well pay perusal.* 
Hardly less valuable is a paper by another authorf belonging to the same Department, 
where homely appliances for the testing of seeds are described. It has long been a 
matter of surprise to me that seed-testing is so little practised by farmers. Of course, 
as regards the more difficult points that present themselves in these investigations, 
the farmer would do well to appeal to the Department of Agriculture for help, but, as 
ft rule, with very little practice, and with appliances to be found in every household, 
he can test the germinating power of most seeds as well as anybody. And if the citizen, 
whose purchases of seeds are limited to those required for the horticulture of a 
suburban garden, were to adopt a similar plan, much heartburning would be saved 
and the precautions of seedsmen for the supply and distribution of good seed would 
be promptly increased. 
The larger seeds are often tested by the senses, the sight, smell, and even 
taste. The weight of them is noted, and whether they are plump or shrivelled. 
Many seeds can be conveniently tested in flower-pots, or saucers or pans, nearly full 
of silver sand and kept moist. These vessels can be kept in a frame or in a green-house. 
" Farmers' Bulletin No. 73," of the New South Wales Department of Agriculture, 
by C. T. Musson, of the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, is entitled " Seed and Seed 
Testing for Farmers." It contains valuable hints in regard to seeds suitable to all 
kinds of people who harvest and use them, and the man engaged in the collection 
and sowing of forest seeds would find much in it of value to him. 
Nature's Method of Protecting the Seed. In Australia one must often have been 
struck with the wonderful arrangements in some fruits for the protection of the more 
*(o) ''Seed Control: its aims, methods, and benefits," by Gilbert H. Hicks (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture). Read 
bafore Massachusetts Hort. Soc., Feb. 8, 1890. Boston, Rockwell, and Churchill; pp. 28. (b) " Pure Seed Investigation," 
by the same author, reprinted from the Year Book of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture for 1894. The same botanist is author 
of Circu'arNo. 6, Division of Botany of the same Dopartment, entitled " Standards of the purity and vitality of Agricultural 
t A - J' P'elcra; '' Testing Seeds at Hume," reprinted from Year Book, U.S. Department of_ Agriculture, 1895. 
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