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BY DON WERTMAN,
PRESIDENT
Pennsylvania Seedsmen
Association
Editors note: In a senes of
articles, the President of
Pennsylvania Seedsmen
Association discusses the
development and need for
the seed industry in Penn
sylvania the nation and the
world. Wertman has been a
part of the industry for the
past fifteen years, holding
various offices in the
association as well as in
other seed related
organizations. He is General
Manager of Seedway Inc.
Ernmaus, Penna. These
JTJ TO SERVE YOU BETTER
LANCASTER, PA
MIXED
FERTILIZER
AGRICULTURAL
CHEMICALS
ROYSTER BONANZA
AND
CROP SPECIALS
gB
/Fertjffier&l
articles are written ex
clusively for Lancaster
Farming.
The story of seed is as old
as that of man himself. The
author of Genesis writes:
“Let the earth put forth
vegetation, plants yielding
seed, and fruit trees bearing
fruit m which is their seed
accormg to its kmd upon the
earth,” and it was so.
Jesus used the story of
seed on the basis for many of
his parables. So it is that
seed has been of tremendous
import to mankind from
time immemorial.
The seed industry did not
develop overnight. It is the
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the powerful, easy-to-apply granular
herbicide Banvel 5G can prevent perennial
weeds from going to seed and spreading to
your productive fields
There's no waste Use only as much Banvel 5G
as you need exactly where you need it
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herbicide from Velsicol
Before using any pesticide read the label
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culmination of man’s in
stinct and initiative over the
centuries to provide himself
and his family a more secure
and abundant life.
The fable of Jack and the
Beanstalk illustrates the
desire to fmd a magic seed
that will change our want
into plenty. The search for
more productive seed is an
ongoing process
Although much has been
accomplished, scientists are
still searching for more
productive seed. Seed which
can be utilized in producing
food and fibre which will go a
long way toward alleviating
some of man’s most critical
problems.
Is Seed that important 7
Yes!
Nine tenths of the food
consumed in the world
emulates from the planting
of seed. Without cultivated
MATERIALS FOR BLENDING
OR DIRECT APPLICATION...
UREA (GRANULAR)
AMMONIUM NITRATE
- NITROGEN SOLUTION
□(AMMONIUM PHOSPHATE
TRIPLE SUPERPHOSPHATE
SUPER PHOSPHATE
MURIATE OF POTASH
GRANULAR ZINC
BORATE (GRANULAR)
MICRONUTRIENT MIX
46%
331/2%
30%
46%
20%
60%
22%
68%
4-40-0
BanvalSG
im
a
crops which are utilized for
human and animal con
sumption, the earth could
only provide for thirty
million rather than its
current four plus billion
inhabitants. Cultivated
plants also produce many
other organic substances
which are utilized in our
modem society.
During the centuries that
we have cultivated plants,
many substitute or alternate
resources have been utilized
in production such as;
Chemical fertilizers,
artificial light, irrigation,
contrived growing media,
but we have never found a
substitute for seed.
The first person to save a
gram of seed which he hoped
would grow another plant,
was the first seedsman.
The practice of saving
seed is ancient by any
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 2,1950—C29
standards. In some species
we still collect and save seed
without much extra
manipulation.
Many can remember
Grandfather selecting the
finest ears of corn whose
gram he would use for
planting. Grandma saved
melon and cucumber seed
for her garden.
Meanwhile plant scientists
were uncovering the secrets
of heredity and plant
genetics. Ways were found to
mcrease a plants produc
tivity by regulating
reproduction. Inbreeding,
crossing, isolating, were new
methods used to improve
existing species or create
new varieties.
As practical applications
were discovered for these
new methods specialists
were needed to implement
them. These specialists have
become known as seedsmen.
Specialized farming
operations developed for the
sole purpose of providing
superior planting stock for
the general agriculture.
Today there are thousands
of seed farms across the
country, producing not only
enough seed for American
farmers but for producers
throughout the world.
Is the Industry needed
today? More so than ever.
Scientific advances have
touched most every species
of plant from corn to
cucumbers, cabbage to
wheat, sunflower to
mangolds.
We have hybridized,
mutated, selected, and
cross-polinated everything
in sight, resulting in the most
productive seed vaneties the
world has ever known.
The seed industry con
tinues to meet the challenge
of science and the producer
in developing techniques and
practices which bring a
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CALL 215-395-2542 For Prices!
ERNEST B. CLAUSER
FARM MACHINERY SERVICE
SUCCESSOR TO BENJ.W CLAUSER
RT. 2, BOX 682, WESCOSVILLE, PA.
LOCATED ON RUPPSVILLE ROAD
PHONE: 215-395-2542
more reliable and product
tive seed to the farmer,
gardener and florist. Today
the industry foots a large bill
for research.
Basic research but also
practical research in areas
of seedling vigor, seed
growing and handling
techniques, packaging, and
ultimate utilization by the
producer.
In many instances ten
years of research are in
volved in the development
and testing of a new variety.
With today’s costs,
millions are spent of private
and public monies to further
the development of new
varieties and technologies.
Seedsmen have become
very responsible individuals.
They must plan years m
advance for the single
production of a given
variety. Seed stocks must be
built up, starting with as
little as several grams of
seed.
Purity and quality must be
maintained, as many seeds
are regulated and controlled
bylaw.
Seedsman face the same
challenges of weather and
climate as do the general
farmer but with the added
responsibility of sustaining
the production as a living or
viable product which will be
used later in commercial
production.
Seedsmen have invested
billions in conditionmg
plants, laboratories, and
storages so that the farmer
can be assured of a depe -
dable supply of seed.
In future articles we will
discuss particular facets of
the industry, including
production problems of
alfalfa seed, labeling
requirements, government
involvement, seed storage
and use by the farmer.
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