BUY GOOD SEED.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 35, 18 March 1914, Page 11

BUY GOOD SEED.

Considering the farmer almost wholly subsists by the germination of seeds,. he cannot exercise too much care in regard to the purchase of his seed. Mr C. T. Musson, of the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, N.S.W., gives the following points, which ;are worth keeping in mind: - 1. Buy from reliable seedsmen on tested sample, or obtain samples and get them tested —this means buying to sample. Some firms will give percentage statement as to vitality and purity; this is valuable even without guarantee. 2. Avoid cheap seed. . Seed firms will give good reliable seed for good prices. 3. Ask for a statement of quality. If this is regularly carried out seedsmen will be obliged to provide it, and thus put before customers details as to the germination capacity of the seeds they sell.

4. Ask for place of origin. This is important in relation to smut on cereals; for some" districts are more free from smut than , others, and seed should" come from clean-districts. Moreover, foreign seed often contains many weed-seeds. 5. Never fail to carry out home tests in order to keep in touch with the matter and prove all seed used.