PREPARING SEED FOR SOWING.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1973, 21 June 1880, Page 2

PREPARING SEED FOR SOWING.

The near approach of the Bowing season, and the fact that early sowing is now pretty generally admitted to be on the whole the best system to adopt, give additional importance to any suggestions for the preparation of seed before it is placed in the ground. The Melbourne “Loader” in dealing with this . subject speaks as follows:—Screening and pickling are important processes that should not be neglected previous to sowing. Screening should be attended to in the case of all seeds, but pickling, as a rule, is only considered indispensable in respect to wheat. The object of proper screening is not to blow away all the light seeds, so as to leave nothing but the heaviest grain ; the result to be aimed at is to get rid of all the weed seeds and other extraneous matter. A perfect screen is attained when nothing is left but the grains, both heavy and light, of the particular kind of seed intended to be sown. The reason why pickling is resorted to in the case of wheat is that it is supposed to prevent smut, although it has to be admitted that science has thrown so little light upon this disease, and upon rust, that much conflicting opinion exists among practical agriculturists upon the subject. Still however opinions may differ, few farmers would feel content to sow their wheat without pickling, and the question is—which of the many systems adopted can be recommended as the best. When we turn to the evidence supplied by experienced farmers we find that there is far from unanimity, the conclusions of one being frequently oppcsed to the apparently equally trustworthy facts of another. Taking tha bulk of evidence, however, the following may be accepted as the best attested practice:— A solution of bluestone is the best and safest pickle, and the quantity to be used is lib. to the bag. The bluestone should be powdered fine and dissolved in warm water. The chief danger to be guarded against; is to avoid the practice of soaking the seed, so as to cause premature germination upon being put into - the ground. This sort of seed, upon being followed by drought after sowing, sprouts owing to the soaking received, and not being sustained by the necessary moisture supplied by tha rain in many instances dies In this way prejudice has frequently risen against the pickling process. As it is desirable to sow early, and, therefore, under circumstances when the seed hag to run the risk of lying in the earth some time before rain comes, too much care cannot be taken to avoid making this serious mistake. If the wheat be properly pickled and sown in dry soil, it will remain for a reasonable time perfectly safe, and keep as well till the rain comes as if it were in the bag. In order to avoid this danger many wheatgrowers, instead of putting the seed in a tub of tha pickling liquid, spread it upon a shallow trough, sprinkle the pickle upon it, and immediately stir it about with a shovel until dry. This is no doubt an effective method, hut the same results are obtained with leas labor in this way :—A large tub or cask, with one end taken out, is obtained and filled with tt« prepared liquid, then a bran bag, or strong gunny bag, is filled with about two bushels of the wheat, and the whole dipped in tha pickle. From one to two minutes will be long enough for the grain to remain in the liquid, as if it is left longer it will be apt to get steeped to such a degree as to induce the germination already alluded to. When the seed has remained in tha pickle about the time specified, the bag is lifted and put to rest upon a couple of bars laid across the mouth of the tub or barrel, where it is allowed to drain. The seed is then emptied upon a tarpaulin or other convenient arrangement and spread about until thoroughly dried tbe application of a little dry lime being found useful at this stage.” This method of pickling s found simple and expeditious, while, by asing a lever to lift the bag into and out of he liquid, a good deal of heavy work is saved. Che same end is attained by having two tubs ixed one above the other, tho top one having i plug-hole at the bottom covered in the inide with a piece of perforated tin. By this noans the grain is emptied into the liquid in he upper tub, and immediately the liquor is Irawu off into the lower one. The wheat is hen removed to be dried in the manner Iready described, and the process repeated intil all the seed is treated One advantage hat tho latter plan 1 u is, that an opportunity s presented upon tho wheat being emptied nto the liquid of skimming from the surface ho weed seeds and other objectionable matter hat may have escaped the screening process. Whatever method is adopted, however, tho bjeot to be aimed at is to bring all parts of ha grain into contact with the pickle, and to et the seed dry without steeping so as to auso germination.