Show considerable CARE NEEDED IN SELECTING CLOVER FOR SEEDING A 0 I 1 7 7 b M arg I 1 4 1 l 0 1 s I 1 az k aa 0 simple teeter for small seeds seed prepared by the united state department of agriculture red clover tins has been styled staled the corner stone of agriculture in the north central and eastern states many far farmers in ers begin kayin g the corn cotner corner n er stone as early as february when it Is customary in many sections to now BOW red clover on tile the surface of the snow so that it will sink into the soil w with ith the first thaw in ill the spring red clover closer Is hardy and Is not injured by ordinary cold and the fact that it can call be sown soun at a season when work on oil tile the farm arm Is comparatively light adds to the eco economy of its cultivation the first important point to be observed Is the selection of good seed say bay specialists of the united states department part ment of agriculture considerable care should be used in this respect well in advance of the time of seeding this li IN true at present when a large proportion of the red clover seed eed used in the united states stales comes from abroad if poor seed Is used the expected crop may be a partial or total failure good seed it Is plump good red clover seed Is plump or well filled bright with a slight luster the color of individual seeds ranging from violet to light yellow the individual seeds should be at least medium sized and fairly uniform free of adulterants adulte rants of any kind and from seeds of noxious weeds home grown seed Is IB desirable especially ally in the north because it Is almost certain to be adapted to local conditions it if it Is not available samples should be obtained from reliable dealers these should be examined for adulterants adulte rants weed seeds seed and shriveled seeds they should also be tested for germination before purchasing in quantity I 1 in n the absence of more accurate methods an estimate should be made of the proportion of true red clover seed and of weed need seeds and other impurities F from ram the r red ed clover seed separated from all impurities a counted number as should be taken just as they come these seeds should be placed between layers of moistened cloth or paper or merely covered in a bed of sand or light soil A dinner plate covered with another is I 1 a suitable germinating receptacle it can be kept in the living room ut tit a temperature between 65 and 85 degrees between the third and sixth days the sprouting ability of the lie seeds should be shown it should be borne in mind that the owing value of the seed Is represented by the amount of true clover alov er which w holcli will w III germinate with reasonable prompt promptness nes 4 thus it four fifths of a sample Is pure clover cloer and only fou fifths wil nil S sprout prout then only three fifths or 0 6 percent per cent of the original seed as offeree will mill grow glow thus the germinating tes tea has an important hearing bearing on oil the bortl of seed offered to the farmer protect it american farmer A seed testing service Is by the united states department oi 0 agriculture where samples of 0 various seeds were examined anc tested in the last fiscal year 1044 in washington and in the five branch seed testing stations service senke Is offered by the various stat experiment stations the depart meni also exercises a strict inspection lee ice over oer field seeds brought from for eign countries and last year skow pounds of various seeds were rejected or held for cleaning before being al lowed to be offered to american form farm ers nevertheless eless the closest scrutiny li Is necessary on the part of the farmei who desires a good stand of clover closer either as a forage crop or to turo turn under for the improvement of his soil it Is important that the testing of seed be done early enough that a suf supply of pure seed can be pur chased in time for use and if seed it to be sent to one of the government or state testing laboratories at least leas two to weeks should be allowed |