GERMINATION OF PACKETED VEGETABLE SEEDS. 9 



SEEDSMEN'S STATEMENTS SOMETIMES MISLEADING. 



One finii in its catalogue makes a statement to the efTect that, 

 having carefully tested the seeds sold, it intends to sell only seeds of 

 the best quality, but for self-protection against fraud on the part of 

 purchasers all seeds are sold subject to the usual clause by which 

 the dealer disclaims an}^ wai-ranty and all liabilit}'- and responsibility 

 for damage resulting from failure through the use of his seeds. 



The average germination of the box seeds put up by this firm and 

 tested for four years was 42.8 per cent, the highest average during 

 that period being 43.6 per cent. 



It would thus appear that such fij-ms either do not test their seeds 

 accurately or else disregard the results of such tests to the extent of 

 including lots showing unsatisfactory germination in their output of 

 packeted seeds for the box trade. 



WHY MAIL-ORDEB, SEEDS GERMINATE BETTER THAN BOX SEEDS. 



There is doubtless an economic reason for the higher average qual- 

 ity of the seeds sold by mail-order houses as compared with the seeds 

 sent out by many of the houses selling box seeds. It is possible for 

 a new firm or one without reputation to purchase a large quantity 

 of seeds, put them up in showy packets and boxes, and by means of 

 attractive prices dispose of them to local merchants either on com- 

 mission or by sale outright. Mail-order houses, on the other hand, 

 are dependent for their trade on proportionately few new customers 

 each year, their business being based largely on the satisfactory 

 quality of their seeds which purchasers have used in previous years. 



GERMINATION OF SEEDS SHOULD BE GUARANTEED. 



The sale of packeted vegetable seeds will not be on a proper basis 

 until each packet is labeled with the percentage of live seed which 

 it contains. This practice would do away with the trade in seeds 

 of low vitality and at the same time give the purchaser the informa- 

 tion to which he is entitled and without which he can not use to the 

 best advantage the seeds he buys. 



Approved : 



James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



"Washington, D. C, July 5, 1912. 



[Cir. 101] 



o 



