394 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



If a pure seed law is passed by our legislature it should be a law with 

 which it would be possible to comply strictly. No fixed standards 

 which could be complied with in one case and not in another should be 

 established. In fact it is doubtful if prohibitory legislation along this 

 line is desirable ; that is legislation which would compel a grower or 

 salesman to abide by difficult specifications in a law. It would in my 

 judgment be better to provide certain standards which, when complied 

 with would entitle the use of a state label, thereby placing a premium 

 on good seed, and offering an incentive to a man to grow the best. 



Mr. 0. W. Newman, assistant secretary of the State Horticultural 

 Commission, has been greatly interested in a pure seed law. Since 

 taking up his work with the commission he has specialized in a study of 

 weeds. More than a year ago Mr. Newman began work on a law embody- 

 ing his ideas relating to weed control and better seed. This tentative 

 law has been revised a number of times to meet new ideas and new 

 problems that arose during its discussion. Some time ago copies of 

 Mr. Newman's proposed bill were sent to a number of the county horti- 

 cultural commissioners, seedmen and other interested parties. At that 

 time its provisions were quite drastic, but the changes that have since 

 been made have done away with most of the undesirable features until 

 now we believe it is worthy of your consideration. However, we are 

 not at all sure that it will be possible to get such a bill in shape for 

 introduction at the coming session of the legislature. With your 

 permission I will read it as it now stands in order that your ideas may 

 be expressed in a discussion which it is hoped will follow. 



AN ACT TO REGULATE THE SALE OF AGRICULTURAL SEED, 

 TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS AND TO PROVIDE UNIFORM 

 LABELS AND CERTIFICATES. 



Enforcement. Section 1. The enforcement of the act shall be entrusted to the 

 State Commissioner of Horticulture who shall appoint a State Seed Commissioner. 



The salary of said State Seed Commissioner shall be The State Seed 



Commissioner shall have power to appoint such deputies, inspectors and assistants 



as may be necessary to enforce the act. The salary of a deputy shall be 



The salary of an inspector shall be The salary of an assistant shall 



be The State Seed Commissioner or his duly authorized agents shall 



have power to enter any place where agricultural seeds are stored, offered or exposed 

 for sale, and to take for analysis, paying the reasonable purchase price, a fair sample 

 from any lot of agricultural seed found therein. 



Definition. Section 2. The term "Agricultural Seed" as used in this act shall 

 mean and include all economic seeds, bulbs and potatoes used for sowing or seeding 

 purposes within the state. 



Labeling. Section 3. Agricultural seed shall not be sold, offered or exposed for 

 sale within this state unless there be securely attached to the container of each lot, 

 parcel or package of said seed, weighing ten pounds or more, a label, stamp or tag 

 plainly written or printed in the English language, stating : 



(A) In the case of grains, grasses, vegetable and other seeds: 



(1) The commonly accepted name of the kind and variety of seed. 



(2) The percentage of purity with a list of the kinds and amounts of weed 



seeds, foreign seeds, and inert matter. 



(3) The percentage of germination and date when last test was made. 



(4) The name and address of the person, firm or corporation selling or 



offering the seed for sale within the state. 



(5) The locality where seed was grown. 



