240 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



THE AGRICULTURAL SKKD SUPPLY OF PENN- 

 SYLVANIA. 



A CO-OPERATIVE INVESTIGATION BY THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE DE- 

 PARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE 

 COLLEGE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



By prof. GKO. C. BUTZ, State College, Pa. 



The low prices of farm products and the considerable competition 

 of western farmers are forcing the eastern farmer to look closely 

 to his methods, and to mend his w^ays, in order that he may econ- 

 omize in expenses and increase his yields and that his profits may 

 continue to encourage his honest labors. Far from insignificant is 

 the fact that in the purchase of farm seeds, he is often paying dearly 

 for lifeless seeds, weed seeds and even sand and other dirt that 

 can contribute nothing to the farm but a poor grade of fertilizer. 



In view of the importance of the subject and of our lack lof 

 knowledge of the quality of the agricultural seeds in the markets of 

 Pennsylvania, the following investigation into the conditions of 

 the seed markets of the State has been conducted in co-operation 

 by the State Department of Agriculture and the Experiment Sta- 

 tion. 



Similar investigations by the United States Department of Agri- 

 culture and the Experiment Stations have shown that no complaint 

 can be made against the established seed houses where every care 

 is exercised to have seeds pure, viable, and ^'rwe to name, but there 

 are many careless and unscrupulous dealers handling untested seeds, 

 in the purchase of which the farmer unwittingly pays an enormous 

 price and tlien at harvest time he wonders why the Lord gave him 

 weeds instead of clover. 



