A FINE DISPLAY OF SEEDS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1587, 2 November 1912, Page 8

A FINE DISPLAY OF SEEDS.

A striking exhibit in the seed section at tho Manawatu A. nnd P. .Show is that of Messrs. Sutton -and Sons,' of Heading, England, Tho exhibit is in tho joint charge of their chief agents, Messrs. Tothill, Limited, of Christchurch, and their local agents, Messrs. Barraud and Abraham, Ltd., who have devoted considerable timo and care in making the display an attractive ,one.' Samples and specimens of all tho main agricultural and gnrden seeds,are on view, together with models of■ various. roots, including swedo turnips j and mangels. A collection of cinerarias, grown by Mr, L. A Abraham, is a feature and may bo termed as a finishingtouch to a display that does justice to the reputation of Messrs.. Sntton and Sons, of the Royal Seed Establishment, Tho foundations of .Buttons' establishment wore laid at the commencement of tho nineteenth-century, years' before tho first railway was projected; but in the devolopmont of. the railway the founders were quick to porceivo a powerful means, of extending to all parts of the Kingdom a business that had already won a localreputation.' Probably tkoir cruoade against adulteration in all its forms Was one of the mostinfluential factors in winning and maintaining public confidence. In the early years of tho nineteenth century the sale of purp seeds of high,.-germinating, power was exceptional and almost impossible; adulteration was tho rule. Tho traffic in dead seeds formed an, important collateral branch of tho tnido; but as' Seeds which had naturally lost their vitality through long.keeping spoiled the sample, machines wero actually constructed for ■ destroying the germs of new seeds without injury to their appearance. So effectual was tho.process that the machine makers olfercd a guarantee'that not a single seed would, by its vitality, bear-witness to the fraud. In every caso a, cheap substitute, was sterilised for mixing with seeds which were similar in. form and colour, but of higher, value. Killed rape, at threepence per pound, was mixed with cabbago, broccoli, and other round seeds ft-orth many shillings, per. pound, This is oniy ono of numerous examples that might be cited. Against tho. whole system .the Jiuttbns storrily set ■' theirfaces. Neitner killed nor adulterated seeds were allowed to enter their.stores. Copies of infamous proposals made to tho firm wero fearlessly published in, their "Farm Annual," with an offer to submit the- original letters .'to those who. were .willing, to investigate the -facte.' 'For' years a continuous 1 battle was waged nntil the public conscience was roused, arid after a protracted inquiry the Seeds Adulteration Act became law.