8 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



It is the l)usin(>.s,s of the .seed-control stations, in the first place, to 

 do all the seed testino- required to safeguard the interests of the farm- 

 ers, horticulturists and sylviculturists in the sense of the above laws, 

 and, 1)esides, to make experimental studies relating to the formation, 

 maturity, germination, and germinative al)ility of seeds, to determine 

 the noxious weeds of the countr}^ and their seeds; to disseminate infor- 

 mation regarding protection against weeds and plant parasites, and 

 regarding good apparatus and machines for purifying seeds; and to 

 make botanical analyses of different kinds of hay and other feeding 

 stuffs. 



All the Hungarian seed-control stations, except the one at Budapest, 

 are attached to agricultural institutes. The permanent staff of the 

 station at Budapest, which is now^ known as the Central Seed-Control 

 Institution, consists of the director (now Dr. Arpad de Degen), 3 

 assistants, 1 microscopist, and 4 helpers; to these are added in the 

 winter 6 aids and 2 boys. The personnel of the other stations is lim- 

 ited to the director, who is professor of botany in the agricultual insti- 

 tute with which the station is connected. 



Each station possesses a standard collection of the seeds of cultivated 

 plants and weeds, a lil)rary, analytical and volumetric balances, a set 

 of optical instruments, thermostats, farinometer, and a collection of 

 feeding stuffs. 



The number of samples of seeds tested has increased from 62 in 1.S81, 

 to 32,487 in 1898, and is steadil}" growing. By far the largest number 

 are tested at the Central Institution at Budapest. 



The rules and regulations prescribed ])y the Minister of Agricultiire 

 for seed testing are practically identical with those adopted by the 

 German Seed-Control Commission. The tariff' for seed tests varies 

 from 1 crown (20.3 cents) for single tests to 8 crowns for a complete 

 analysis of sugar-beet seed. 



As the sale in Hungary of clover or alfalfa seed which is not free 

 from cuscuta is prohibited, merchants are required to keep the seed 

 of these plants in bags provided by the stations, with tags showing 

 their purity. The tags are also furnished to merchants, on applica- 

 tion, for use on other seeds, provided they come up to the following 

 prescribed standards of purity and germinative abilit}^: 



