268 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE, 



to California, you will get three very diverging results. There 

 is a National Association of Seed Analysts that are endeavor- 

 ing to work out a uniformity of methods, just exactly as, 30 

 or 40 years ago we began witli the Official Agricultural Chem- 

 ists to work out uniform methods in the analysis of fertilizers. 

 I think it would be unwise at present to incorporate in any law 

 anything in regard to germination because different labora- 

 tories get different results. Vitality is, next to purity, the 

 most important thing relative to seed, but until we can get 

 uniform laboratory methods I trust this association will take 

 no steps towards placing it in the law. 



Mr. Roberts : The matter of appropriation has been men- 

 tioned. You all understand that the heads of departments 

 are required to make a recommendation to the legislature 

 through the State Auditor of the amounts which they think 

 will be required in their departments, and in my recommenda- 

 tion I put the amount for this association at $600. Of course 

 I would have been glad to make it a great deal more than that 

 but there are a good many departments and a little increase 

 in each makes a total of quite a large increase. In addition to 

 that, we have an appropriation of $3,000 for agricultural sta- 

 tistics, seed work and other miscellaneous work, and I have 

 recommended an addition to that appropriation of $1,000, the 

 idea being that quite a percentage of this $1,000 could be 

 devoted to the seed work. I mention this to show you that 

 the Department is trying to work along the same lines in which 

 you are working. 



Mr. Lowell: Our Secretary has made a number of very 

 good suggestions. I think the first one he made was in regard 

 to dues. The question is whether they should be increased or 

 not. As a general rule among the people I think what costs 

 them little they value low. It has been costing us 50 cents a 

 year, and consequently the seed improvement work has not 

 been valued very high. I think the fee should be doubled at 

 least. I move that we take up that question now. 



Mr. Adams: It is nearly time to adjourn, and would it 

 not be w^ell to have a committee appointed? I move that the 

 recommendations of the Secretary be referred to the committee 

 on resolutions and that they report upon the same tomorrow. 



This motion was carried. 



