THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
March 3, 
182 
WEEDS IN ALFALFA SEED. 
Keep Away From Cheap Seeds . 
Good Clover. —I was much interested 
in Henry Field’s letter in regard to the 
seeming preference among farmers for 
cheap clover seeds. We have not had 
much experience with the Medium clover 
seed, but we have noticed one or two 
things in regard to the trade in Alfalfa 
seed that seem to us to be interesting in 
this discussion. Very many farmers have 
tried to grow Alfalfa and have failed, 
sometimes owing to poor seed, sometimes 
because they were careless in their prep¬ 
aration of the ground, and sometimes for 
other reasons. The fact that it is difficult 
to start has made them more particular 
about their seed, I believe, than they are 
about their clover seed. I think that this 
is all right, but I think it is of the great¬ 
est benefit to use the best clover seed 
also. We are farmers ourselves, and we 
make as many mistakes as most other 
farmers, so in what I am going to say 
I want everybody to know that I am not 
preaching. For 12 years we have grown 
Alfalfa instead of any other kind of hay, 
but two years ago we had just purchased 
a field that we thought was too poor to 
grow Alfalfa at once, and so prepared to 
sow clover. Purely by accident we se¬ 
cured our clover seed from one of the 
largest clover seed firms in the country, 
and as we had to have it shipped in we 
thought that we might as well have the 
best, and so ordered the best they had. 
It cost us about 75 cents per bushel more 
than ordinary seed would have, and it 
was an education to us in what consti¬ 
tutes good clover seed. Every seed was 
large and plump, there was on every one 
that beautiful purple shade which goes 
with the very best clover seed, and there 
was not a weed seed that we saw in the 
entire 10 bushels that we bought. And 
this at an additional cost of 75 cents 
per bushel. This was the only really 
fancy clover seed that we ever saw 
brought into this town, and surely we 
are foolish to use the home-grown seed 
if it is of poor color, shrunken or full 
of weed seed. 
The Seedsman’s Risks. —I find, how¬ 
ever, that sometimes farmers are particu¬ 
lar about seed to the point of being fool¬ 
ish. I have a case in mind where a 
seedsman of the highest reputation was 
approached by a purchaser who said that 
he had tried several times to grow Al¬ 
falfa and had failed each time, and who 
wanted to know if the seedsman would 
guarantee his seed to the extent that if 
the purchaser failed to secure a stand 
he should not have to pay anything for 
the seed. The seedsman promptly told 
him that he would guarantee to take the 
seed that he was selling, to go to the buy¬ 
er’s farm and there obtain a good stand 
with it, and to do so by following the 
simplest instructions that he gave to each 
of his customers, but that he would not 
guarantee that the buyer in question could 
raise anything anywhere. This was rude, 
but the seedsman could not be blamed. 
I know of another seedsman who has an 
equally good reputation who sold some 
beardless barley to a farmer. When the 
crop was raised the farmer, who had 
several hundred bushels, asked the seeds¬ 
man to help him sell the grain. The 
seedsman sold it for him to a wholesaler 
who is a noted “mixer.” The wholesaler 
sold it to a jobber, who sold it to a re¬ 
tailer, and finally a farmer in the South 
purchased it. When the grain ripened it 
was found to be badly mixed, about half 
beardless and half bearded. The farmer 
traced the seed clear back to the original 
seedsman and asked him how much dam¬ 
ages he was willing to pay! Now, while 
the seedsman of whom Mr. Field tells 11 s 
is in part! right, that if he sells strictly by 
sample it is all right for him to sell any¬ 
thing, T think that all such seedsmen do 
one thing that cannot be easily excused. 
They do sell by sample, but it has been 
my observation that they also recom¬ 
mend their seeds, no matter how cheap or 
inferior, much more than they should. 
Of course the farmer should be well 
enough informed to protect himself; 
should be able to tell good seed when he 
saw it, and even know just how good they 
are, but none of us can do that in all 
seeds, and when we buy seed that is new 
to us we have to take the seedsman’s 
word for it. Now, it is entirely right and 
proper for a seedsman to send out an at¬ 
tractive catalogue. I entirely approve of 
it. and even think that a good seed cata¬ 
logue is an inspiration to better farming, 
but he should try to be pretty truthful 
about the seed that he sells, and not over¬ 
rate their real value too much. 
Variations in Alfalfa.—I have before 
me, secured for purposes of comparison, 
over 50 samples of Alfalfa seed. Some 
are very good, some are pretty good, and 
many are very bad. I notice that the men 
who sell the worst seed praise their seed 
just as highly as the ones who sell the 
best. One seedsman tells the great ad¬ 
vantage in vitality that non-irrigated seed 
possesses over that which has been grown 
under irrigation, and says that his seed 
is of very great vitality, really the best 
that there is in the country, non-irrigated, 
etc. His sample shows a southern-grown 
seed, brown, weedy, and of very poor 
quality. Some others tell in their very 
pretty catalogues how Alfalfa, when prop¬ 
erly handled will produce from 10 to 15 
tons per acre. It will, but one has to go to 
California to do it, and four tons is a 
pretty good yield east of Missouri. Would 
it not be better for them to drop their 
fairy stories? Still another sends out 
four samples, at different prices. His 
best he admits is the best that is in the 
country, not only on account of its great 
germinating strength, but on account of 
its exceptional purity. I had to send the 
seed to the Department of Agriculture to 
determine what the foreign seed is that 
his sample contains, but it js simply full, 
of something that is not Alfalfa seed. I 
do not know what the botanist calls it 
yet, as there has not been time for a 
reply. For about 50 cents per bushel less 
money this seedsman sells Alfalfa that 
is surely bad, brown, shrunken and weedy. 
His third sample is a good deal worse yet, 
and his cheapest seed, which he still sells 
at a good price, is nearly, but not quite, 
the worst that I have ever seen. The 
very worst was some seed that was sold 
for $9.50 per bushel in my own town, and 
at a time when the very best seed sold 
there at about $10. A lady in speaking 
of Alfalfa said: “Why, we would rather 
like Alfalfa, but it seeds your farm down 
to weeds so. We sowed some and when 
it came up it was full of turnips. We 
didn’t like that at first, but when they 
had grown we pulled them and fed to the 
stock and didn’t mind it so much, but a 
little later the whole field just grew up to 
strange weeds that we had never seen 
before, and we were clean disgusted with 
Alfalfa.” When asked if they had not 
sown cheap seed, she replied: “Why, yes, 
we sowed the cheapest seed that we 
could find.” If her husband valued his 
time at all he could not afford to pull 
those weeds half as, easily as he could to 
buy the best seed in the first place. The 
best and purest seed costs only a little 
more per acre than the poorest, not over 
50 cents per acre with any of the clovers 
that we are acquainted with, and if the 
weeds were the only objection to cheap 
seed you can spend 50 cents per acre 
pretty easily in pulling weeds. But the 
weeds are not the only objection, the 
difference in vitality between some of the 
cheaper seeds that we know and that of 
the best being so great that if the cheaper 
seeds were free from weeds we would 
about as soon let our ground lie idle as 
We make 
a specialty of 
Farm Seeds—Cereals, Grasses, 
Clovers, etc. If you sow Young’s seed, 
you sow seed that’s been thoroughly tested; 
that’s pure and of the very best quality. We 
will be glad to send you our new Seed Book. 
Contains a choice collection of everything 
that’s needed for farm and garden, and also 
gives special directions for successful cul¬ 
tivation. We are also headquarters for 
POULTRY SUPPLIES. You can buy any¬ 
thing from incubators to insect powders from 
us. It’s convenient to buy all your supplies 
from one place and besides you save 
money. Catalog free. 
J0SIAH YOUNG, 
27 Grand St., 
Troy, N. Y. 
seed: 
Griswold’s Seeds. 
Why not purchase your supply of Seeds, Seed Po¬ 
tatoes, etc., direct from Seed Growers? Every market 
gardener and seed planter should have our wholesale 
catalogue. Mailed free. Address 
THOS. GRISWOLD & CO. 
38 Maple Ave. S. Wethersfield,Conn. 
Two Grand Prizes St. Louis Exposition. 
In addition to our extensive 
and descriptive list of high class 
Grass Seeds in our new 
catalogue, will be found the 
Clovers, Forage and 
Economic Seeds, and all 
other farm and garden seeds in 
greatest variety. 
Send for our 1906 Catalogue. MAILED FREE on 
application. 
J. M. THORBURN & CO., 
36 CORTLANDT ST., NEW YORK. 
Established 1802. 
RED RIVER VALLEY 
EARLY OHIOS 
grown in the cold Northwest are unsur¬ 
passed for vigor and early maturity. Olds’ 
pure select seed is the best that can be 
obtained. Prices reasonable. 
Send postal for 80-Page Catalog Potatoes, 
Corn, Oats, Barley, Clover Seed, Grass Seed, 
Garden Seeds, etc. 
„ Drawer Y, Clinton, WIs. 
umimfflr 
i 
j] TO ALL 
who will write for them. 
To prove that our seeds 
are superior to all others 
we will send 50 VARIETIES 
OF VEGETABLE SEEDS AN0 1000 
FLOWER SEEDS — enough 
for Ten Thousand Plants 
—together with 108-page 
illustrated catalog for 
14 cents, postpaid. Write 
quick—this offer won’t 
last long. 
Wernlch Seed Co., 
Boi F Mllwaukae. WIs. 
' — GOLDEN 
BEAUTY 
.Tree 
‘Tomato 
asm* 
Four Packets Seeds FREE 
This splendid variety bears abundantly of medium 
to large size Tomatoes, which are of A BEAU¬ 
TIFUL GOLDEN OOLOK. Very smooth, and of 
the most DELICIOUS FLAVOR. It is VERY 
EARLY, and entirely free from rot. The plants 
STAND UP LIKE A TREE, withoutany support. 
Finch’s Early Red Tree Tomato 
This variety Is almost exactly like the Golden 
Beauty, only the fruits instead of being yellow are 
Of A BRIGHT BED COLOR. 
A dish of Red and Yellow Tree Tomatoes sliced 
together and put on the table, make one of the most 
attractive dishes that can possibly be prepared. 
Finch’s Perfection Lettuce 
Without exception THE FINEST LETTUCE 
EVER GROWN. This Lettuce does not head like 
some varieties, but forms huge, compact, bush-like 
plants which are ALWAVS VERY CRISP AND 
TENDER, and of FINE FLAVOR. 
SPECIAL OFFER. For only Ten Cent* In Silver or 
Twelve Cent* in Postage Stamps I will send a packet of the 
Golden Beauty Tree Tomato seed, and in addition will give 
FREE a sample packet of the Red Tree Tomato, Perfection 
Lettuce, and Carnation Poppies, beautiful, brilliant Flow era 
of every imaginable Shade and Color, together with Price 
List of seeds for 1906, also SEVEN VALUABLE SE¬ 
CRETS, one of which oost $100 to obtain, and all for Ten 
Cents in Silver or Twelve Cents in Postage Stamps. Do not 
delay but order AT ONCE. Address plainly, 
FRANK FINCH, Box L, Clyde, N. Y. 
Every person sending Ten Cents for this collection of 
Choice Seeds and naming the paper they read the advertise¬ 
ment in will receive extra a sample packet of the Diamond 
Winter Cabbage Seed. 
F OR SAT.E— Cow Peas, $1.50 Bushel; Crimson 
Clover Seed, $5.50 per Bushel; 2d Growth Seed 
Potatoes, $3.50 Bag; Seed Sweet Potatoes. 
J. K. HOLLAND, Milford, Delaware. 
} 1905 CROP. 
) We sell the best grade of 
\ Garden, Field and 
(Flower Seeds, Also 
(Bulbs, that money will 
( buy. We are reeleaners of 
) Clover, Timothy, Red Top, Blue 
) Grass, Mammoth White Rye, 
( Beardless Barley, Seed Wheat and 
■ f a full line of Farm Seeds. 
Write for Catalog and Field Seed Price List FREE. 
THE HENRY PHILIPPS SEED & IMPLEMENT C0„ 
115-117 St. Clair St., Toledo, Ohio. 
Make sure a yield of quantity and 
quality. When your father planted 
Ferry's, they were the best on the 
i .market, but they have been improv¬ 
ing ever since. We are experts la 
flower and vegetable seeds. 
1906 Seed Annual* beautifully illus¬ 
trated, free to all applicants. 
0. M. FERRY & CO., Detroit, Mich. 
Wood’s Seeds. 
Alfalfa Seed 
INOCULATED 
Ready For Sowing. 
Inoculation makes it possible 
to grow Alfalfa where it could not 
be grown before. 
It supplies the bacteria neces¬ 
sary for the best growth and de¬ 
velopment of this valuable crop. 
Alfalfa once well established 
lasts for years, yielding large and 
continuous cuttings of the best 
and most nutritious hay. Price of 
seed quoted on request. 
Wood’s 1906 Seed Book tells 
all about Inoculated Seeds, both 
for the Garden and Farm. Mailed 
free. Write for it. 
I.W. Wood & Sons, Seedsmen, 
RICHMOND, • VIRGINIA. 
Wfc can also supply Inoculated Garden 
Peas, Snap Beans, Clovers, Cow 
Peas, etc. Write for prices. 
famous Cucumber 
For flavor, uniform size, 
color, and productiveness 
itisabsoiutely unequaled. 
In addition to this it 
comes into bearing very 
early, continuing right 
through the season until 
killed by frost. Always 
straight —never turning yellow. 
Best for the table, for market 
and for pickling. Large sam¬ 
ple packet for only 5c orloz. 
for 15c, including copy of our 
grand new • 
FREE BOOK 
“Northern Grown Seeds” 
Plants, Bulbs, Fruits and Trees. Contains all 
the good things for the Garden and Farm worth 
growing at the right prices. Don’t fail to secure 
the Book. Write today. 
L. L. MAY, St. Paul, Minnesota 
PLANT OUR QUICK-GROWING 
NORTHERNSEED 
You will gain from one to three weeks over 
your neighbors who plant home-grown seed. 
Think what higher prices this means. No 
more labor —no more land —but bigger, 
earlier crops, and larger profits. 
Northern Seed grown in colder climate 
and shorter season matures much earlier. 
DflTATflFQ Our Extra Early Petoskey 
lU I A I U3.V is a marvel. Large, fine, 
smooth, white. Big yielder; earliest of all. 
Try some this year and see for yourself. 
Send 25c, stamps or coin, and get one large 
seed potato and catalogue (worth dollars to 
any grower). Complete line hardy Northern 
Grown Seeds. Catalogue alone free. Write 
today, while you have this before you. 
Darllnf & Beahan, 23 Michigan St., Petoskey, Mich. 
A wonderful big catalog CDCC 
Full of engravings of every lIlEC 
variety, with prices lower than other 
dealers. The book is worth a dol¬ 
lar to any one who plants seeds. 
Big Lot of Extra Packages Free to 
Every Customer. 
Send yours and neighbors address. 
R. H.Shumway, Rockford, Illinois. 
For years we have sold the purest grass 
and clover seed to be found in this 
country. Our free catalogue contains 
a choice collection of vegetables and 
flower seed, with clear directions for 
cultivating each variety. 
J. J. H. CRECORY & SON, 
Marblehead, Mass. 
KSEedJ 
mSLpm 
(RICE). Bred 30 years by 
one person. One ear has 
produced 5 bushels. Ears 
often 10 inches long with 24 
rows. None other has this seed. Excels in everything. 
Sample on cob, 10 cents, or write for full particulars. 
A. H. CRAIG, Mukwonago, Wisconsin. 
W estern Seeds for Western Planters , „ , Kar 
^ ^ ^ — ^ — ^^Speltz, Millet Kafhr 
Corn English Blue Grass, Oklahoma Dwarf Broom Corn, Hungarian Brome Grass and full line Garden, Flower and Field 
Seeds. Write NOW for our 1906 Catalog. Free by mail. Address Kansas Seed House, Lawrence, Kansas, 
or Colorado Seed House. Den ver.Colo-.orOklahomaSeed House,Oklahoma City,Okia. 
Seeds for Farm and 
Garden, Alfalfa, Maca¬ 
roni Wheat, Russian 
