REPORT OF ASSISTANT DAIRY INSTRUCTOR. 2C) 



entitled to certification here in Maine in 191 5 were, approxi- 

 mately, 200,000. Wisconsin had 56,000 bushels, mostly Green 

 Mountain and Rural New Yorker varieties, not so much sought 

 after in the south for seed as is the Maine grown Cobbler, Rose 

 and Hebron. 



The experience of the past year shows that the work of seed 

 improvement by state inspection should be as near self-sustain- 

 ing as it is possible to make it. There is seldom any real good 

 comes from any work unless those who benefit by it are inter- 

 ested enough to pay the cost. Moreover, it seems to be im- 

 possible to so teach the growers the responsibility that rests 

 upon them in the grading and sorting of seed potatoes, entitled 

 to certification, that they may be a continual advertisement of 

 our best Maine seed. With this idea in view the secretary has 

 presented the following recommendations, to the officers and 

 the executive committee of the Maine Seed Improvement Asso- 

 ciation, as to the fees to be charged for the work of seed in- 

 spection for the present year : 



Rule I. There shall be an entry fee of 50 cents per acre on 

 all crops, payable when the entry is made. 



Rule 2. An additional fee of $2 per acre be paid on all 

 that pass the two field inspections and the crop judged fit for 

 certification. 



Rule 3. That a fee for tags be paid on a basis of one and 

 one-half cents per bushel for potatoes payable at the time the 

 inspector attaches the tags to the container. 



Rule 4. That no tags be left with the grower, but all kept 

 in the hands of the inspectors until the inspectors themselves 

 shall attach to the containers; each tag to be signed by the in- 

 spector in his own handwriting, thereby making certain that 

 the complaint of poorly graded stock can be traced directly to 

 the inspector responsible for letting it go out. This rule to 

 apply to all crops. 



Rule 5. That each inspector shall supply a copy of his sig- 

 nature to the President of the Seed Improvement Association 

 and the Department of Agriculture. 



Rule 6. That as it is only necessary to make one field in- 

 spection of small grains, like oats, barley, wheat, buckwheat, 

 etc., that a fee of $1 per acre be charged in addition to the 



