MEMBERS' BOTANICAL PRIVILEGES {continued). 



THE SAMPLING OF SEEDS. 



The utmost care should be taken to secure a fair and honest sample. This 

 should be drawn from the bulk delivered to the purchaser, and not from the 

 sample sent by the vendor. 



When legal evidence is required, the sample should be taken from the bulk, 

 and placed in a sealed bag- in the presence of a witness. Care should be taken 

 that the sample and bulk be not tampered with after delivery, or mixed or 

 broug^ht in contact with any other sample or bulk. 



At least one ounce of grass and other small seeds should be sent, and two 

 ounces of cereals and the larger seeds. When the bulk is obviously impure, 

 the sample should be at least double the amount specified. Grass seeds should 

 be sent at least four weeks, and seeds of clover and cereals two weeks before 

 they are to be used. 



The exact name under which the sample has been sold and analysed 

 should accompany it. 



REPORTING THE RESULTS. 



The Report will be made on a schedule in which the nature and amount of 

 impurities will be stated, and the number of days each sample has been under 

 test, with the percentage of the seeds which have germinated. 



"Hard" clover seeds, though not germinating within the time stated, will 

 be considered good seeds, and their percentage separately stated. 



The impurities in the sample, including the chafiE of the species tested, will 

 be specified in the schedule, and only the percentage of the pure seed of that 

 species will be reported upon ; but the REAL VALUE of the sample will be 

 stated. The Real Value is the combined percentages of purity and germina- 

 tion, and is obtained by multiplying these percentages and dividing by 100 ; 

 thus in a sample of Meadow Fescue having 88 per cent, purity and 95 per cent, 

 germination, 88 multiplied by 95 gives 8,360, and this divided by 100 gives 83"6, 

 the Real Value. 



SELECTING SPECIMENS OF PLANTS. 



When a specimen is sent for determination, the whole plant should be 

 taken up and the earth shaken from the roots. If possible, the plants must be 

 in flower or fruit. They should be packed in a light box, or in a firm 

 paper parcel. 



Specimens of diseased plants or of parasites should be forwarded as fresh as 

 possible. They should be placed in a bottle, or packed in tinfoil or oil-silk. 



All specimens should be accompanied with a letter specifying the nature of 

 the information required, and stating any local circumstances (soil, situation, 

 &c.) which, in the opinion of the sender, would be likely to throw light on the 

 inquiry. 



PARCELS OR LETTERS CONTAINING SEEDS OR PLANTS FOR 



EXAMINATION MUST BE ADDRESSED (CARRIAGE OR POSTAGE 



PREPAID) TO- 



PROFESSOR R. H. BIFFEN, F.R.S., 

 School of Agriculture, Cambridge. 



VIII 



