96 THE CONNECTICUT AGRICULTUEAL 



The Station's instructions for sampling seeds, are as follows 



THE CONNECTICUT 



AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, 



New Haven, Conn. 



Instructions for Sampling Seeds. 



The Purity and Germinating Power of Seeds intended for Farm and 

 Garden use are learned by examining a small average sample. A 

 weighed amount of seed is taken, the pure seeds are culled out and 

 weighed, foreign matters and esjjecially noxious seeds are identified, the 

 vitality of the pure seed is tested by careful sprouting trials, and a report 

 is drawn up of the results. ^ 



As the test of germinating power requires some time for its comple- 

 tion, a report on samples sent in cannot be ordinarily expected in less 

 than two weeks. 



The examination of grass-mixtures can only be undertaken in special 

 cases. It requires a large outlay of time and labor which is not often 

 justified by the results. 



In selecting a sample for examination the greatest care should be used 

 to have it represent accurately the whole amount from which it was 

 taken. This result will be secured by proceeding as follows : 



1. IVIix well together with the hand and arm the contents of the 

 package (bag or barrel) or packages of seed. 



2. Take out five or six small handf uls or cupf uls* from various parts of 



the package, mix these together and take a part of tliis mixture for the 

 sample. 



3. Send of the smaller seeds — red top, white clover, timothy, etc., two 

 (2) ounces; of beets, turnips, red clover, etc., four (4) ounces; of wheat 

 and cereals, and of peas and other legumes, eight (8) ounces. 



4. Samples may be sent by mail, or otherwise, prepaid, and should be 

 plainly labeled and addressed to 



Conn. Agricultural Experiment Station, 



New Haven, Conn. 



/ 

 * A small cup may be closed with the palm of the hand, forced down to the 

 desired place, then filled and withdrawn. 



