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Seeds and Seedage. A seed is a ripened embryo, and its integuments and storage supplies, resulting from fertilization in the flower. Seedage is a term used to include all knowledge respecting the propagation of plants by means of seeds or spores. The word was first used, so far as the writer is aware, in 1887. It is equivalent to the French semis, and is comparable with the words graftage, layerage, and cuttage. See Spores.
Seeds and Seedage. A seed is a ripened embryo, and its integuments and storage supplies, resulting from fertilization in the flower. Seedage is a term used to include all knowledge respecting the propagation of plants by means of seeds or spores. The word was first used, so far as the writer is aware, in 1887. It is equivalent to the French semis, and is comparable with the words graftage, layerage, and cuttage. See Spores.
Under these conditions, a necessary preparation for the growing of better stocks is the formation of a very clear and comprehensive conception of the exact varietal character of the stock to be grown, and a rigid adherence to that ideal in the selection of seeding plants from year to year, never giving way to the ever-present temptation to use some superlative individual which differs in any respect from the original ideal of the stock. A most important aid, if not a requisite, for such persistence is the writing out and placing on file for frequent reference the fullest practical description of the exact varietal character of the sort. With this in hand, a few plants which come as near as possible to that ideal are selected, and the seed of each saved separately. The next season samples of each of these lots are planted in a preliminary trial. As they develop, and with the written description of the desired form in hand, they are carefully compared and the lots which most uniformly adhere to the described form are selected. The next season the reserved seed of the lots which seemed the best in the preliminary trial are planted in blocks as far as possible from each other, or any plants of the species, and the seed raised used for larger plantation for use as stock seed, in the meantime starting another selection from individual plants to take the place of the first, as it deteriorates. An illustration will show the value of careful selection and the necessity for constant renewal of even the purest of stocks. A very carefully bred strain of a variety of watermelon was used to plant a 20-acre field grown for seed. When about three-fourths of the fruit was ripe, several hours were spent in looking over the field for "off" stock and less than fifty fruits were found which should be removed. Fully 75 per cent of the fruits were so near alike that they could not be distinguished from each other. Seed from this field was used for planting seed crops and it was so good that little attention was paid to the stock; as a result, some years later, a crop grown in the same vicinity from seed of the same strain, but several generations removed, instead of less than fifty "off" fruits on 20 acres, had fully 75 per cent of the fruits more or less distinctly "off” and less than 20 per cent were as uniformly ideal of the variety as were 99 per cent of those of the first crop.
Under these conditions, a necessary preparation for the growing of better stocks is the formation of a very clear and comprehensive conception of the exact varietal character of the stock to be grown, and a rigid adherence to that ideal in the selection of seeding plants from year to year, never giving way to the ever-present temptation to use some superlative individual which differs in any respect from the original ideal of the stock. A most important aid, if not a requisite, for such persistence is the writing out and placing on file for frequent reference the fullest practical description of the exact varietal character of the sort. With this in hand, a few plants which come as near as possible to that ideal are selected, and the seed of each saved separately. The next season samples of each of these lots are planted in a preliminary trial. As they develop, and with the written description of the desired form in hand, they are carefully compared and the lots which most uniformly adhere to the described form are selected. The next season the reserved seed of the lots which seemed the best in the preliminary trial are planted in blocks as far as possible from each other, or any plants of the species, and the seed raised used for larger plantation for use as stock seed, in the meantime starting another selection from individual plants to take the place of the first, as it deteriorates. An illustration will show the value of careful selection and the necessity for constant renewal of even the purest of stocks. A very carefully bred strain of a variety of watermelon was used to plant a 20-acre field grown for seed. When about three-fourths of the fruit was ripe, several hours were spent in looking over the field for "off" stock and less than fifty fruits were found which should be removed. Fully 75 per cent of the fruits were so near alike that they could not be distinguished from each other. Seed from this field was used for planting seed crops and it was so good that little attention was paid to the stock; as a result, some years later, a crop grown in the same vicinity from seed of the same strain, but several generations removed, instead of less than fifty "off" fruits on 20 acres, had fully 75 per cent of the fruits more or less distinctly "off” and less than 20 per cent were as uniformly ideal of the variety as were 99 per cent of those of the first crop.
The seed trade of America.
The seed trade of America.
The importation of staple garden seeds had largely decreased by 1870, and with the exception of a few staples in agricultural and flower seeds, America may be said to have become to a great extent self-supplying. The greatest development of this industry has taken place since the close of the war. In 1878 J. J. H. Gregory estimated that there were in all 7,000 acres devoted to garden seeds, while the census of 1890 showed that there were 596 seed-farms, containing 169,850 acres. Of these farms, 200 were established between 1880 and 1890, and it is likely that about 150 more were started during the same period. The census returns, however, do not give the actual acreage devoted to growing seeds. As many seeds are grown by those not regularly in the business, it is probable that census returns as to acreage are under rather than over the mark. The statistics available in the United States Census are very imperfect, partly owing to the lack of a continuous system in presentation, both in the returns of home industry and also in custom-house returns, but chiefly to the reluctance of seedsmen and growers to make public the results of their business methods or even the methods themselves.
The importation of staple garden seeds had largely decreased by 1870, and with the exception of a few staples in agricultural and flower seeds, America may be said to have become to a great extent self-supplying. The greatest development of this industry has taken place since the close of the war. In 1878 J. J. H. Gregory estimated that there were in all 7,000 acres devoted to garden seeds, while the census of 1890 showed that there were 596 seed-farms, containing 169,850 acres. Of these farms, 200 were established between 1880 and 1890, and it is likely that about 150 more were started during the same period. The census returns, however, do not give the actual acreage devoted to growing seeds. As many seeds are grown by those not regularly in the business, it is probable that census returns as to acreage are under rather than over the mark. The statistics available in the United States Census are very imperfect, partly owing to the lack of a continuous system in presentation, both in the returns of home industry and also in custom-house returns, but chiefly to the reluctance of seedsmen and growers to make public the results of their business methods or even the methods themselves.
The seeds usually offered by seedsmen in their catalogues, or in the seed-stores throughout the country, are secured from various parts of the world, and the seedsman who sells seed at retail to the planter direct seldom grows his own seed, although some of the larger firms now conduct seed-farms on which they grow certain specialties, and most of them conduct trial and experimental grounds.
The seeds usually offered by seedsmen in their catalogues, or in the seed-stores throughout the country, are secured from various parts of the world, and the seedsman who sells seed at retail to the planter direct seldom grows his own seed, although some of the larger firms now conduct seed-farms on which they grow certain specialties, and most of them conduct trial and experimental grounds.
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