No. 0. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 241 



Perhaps the seed merchant is not wholly to blame for the fraud 

 perpetrated, since it is verj likely he himself is not aware of the 

 inferior character of the seeds he is selling, and at present the an- 

 noyance lies wholly with the farmer. IJefore purchasing, he must 

 test the seed or have it tested by a reliable authority, or, he may 

 require a guarantee of the standard of purity and germination and 

 have the seed tested later. He should be willing to pay what good 

 seed is worth and beware of very cheap seeds. In some States, 

 legislation has been enacted to prevent gross fraud in the sale of 

 seeds, but as yet no State has attempted a system of seed control 

 upon the basis of the fertilizer control so effectual in this State. 

 In 1897, the Legislature of the State of Maine enacted a law entitled 

 ''An act to regulate the sale of agricultural seeds." This act makes 

 it the duty of the Director of the Experiment Station to prescribe 

 the methods to be used in examining seeds, and to "publish equitable 

 standards of purity together with such other information concern- 

 ing agricultural seeds as may be of public benefit." There is no 

 attempt here at seed inspection and hence the effect of the law in 

 the way of regulating the sale of seeds is very slight. 



COLLECTING THE SAMPLES. 



To fairly test the seed supply of Pennsylvania, it was proposed 

 to secure samples of the chief agricultural seeds directly from the 

 merchants where the farmers are accustomed to buy their supply; 

 and, accordingly, the Secretary of Agriculture authorized a reliable 

 agent in every county of the State to take fair average samples of the 

 following kinds of seeds and in the quantities indicated: 



Kentucky blup* grass, i oz. 



Timothy, 1 oz. 



Orchard grass, i oz. 



Red clover, medium, 1 oz. 



Red clover, mammoth 1 oz. 



Crimson clover, 1 oz. 



Alsike clover, 1 oz. 



Onion, Yellow Globe Danvers, i oz. 



Cauliflower, Dwarf Erfurt, i oz. 



Sweet corn, Stowell's Evergreen, \ pint. 



Each quantity was placed in an envelope provided for the purpose, 

 properly labeled and sealed by the agent and forwarded to the Ex- 

 periment Station at State College, Pa. 



10— G— 1901 



