HEPORT OF THE SOCIETY 75 



from disease of agricultural, of for that matter any kind of seed, may not be out 

 of order. 



Seed is produced for two reasons, first for direct consumption as such (peas, 

 beans, corn, grain, etc.), and secondly for' seed purposes. 



In the case of the first group any standards applying to the quality of seeds 

 for direct use by man will cover all those requirements which are more or less 

 obvious. 



The production of seed for seed purposes, however, should be subjected to 

 the most stringent rules possible and practicable under the most advanced 

 methods of cultivation. Ordinary methods will not suffice, even though they 

 may be more practicable, but a grower who really desires to fulfill all the require- 

 ments of a superior seed must be prepared to go to considerable trouble and 

 look towards the gain in price that is bound to be his, if successful. 



Now, in regard to the point — freedom from disease. We require essentially 

 freedom from all such diseases as are conveyed by the seeds themselves. Our 

 inquiries should therefore be directed as follows, (a) diseases carried by seeds, 

 and (b) diseases not carried by seeds; and the former be grouped into (c) 

 diseases that may be controlled by seed treatment, and (d) diseases that are 

 not controlled or difficult to control by seed treatment. 



Hence, depending upon the nature of diseases present, entries should be 

 made on the report forms. 



Thus, if a grain field shows smuts of a type easily controlled by seed treat- 

 ment, it should receive, notwithstanding, a more lenient treatment than 

 cereals affected by smuts difficult to control, viz. the loose smuts of barley and 

 wheat. 



The great question of practical value, however, is, "Does our present know- 

 ledge enable us, as plant pathologists — and insect specialists — to give the defi- 

 nite type of advice in this regard which can be of value to the seed inspector in 

 assessing this phase of his work? " 



The ideal, of course, is as always that seed grown for seed purposes should 

 be free from disease. No person should be exposed to the serious risks resulting 

 from seeds that bear the germ of disease, for one can never foresee the condi- 

 tions that may cause a comparatively slight original infection to assume the 

 importance of a serious epidemic, which may not only result in the loss of the 

 crop, but may also be the source of permanent soil infections. 



We have learned important lessons in this I'egard from, our seed potato 

 inspection service now carried on by our division for some ten years or more. 

 What is true of disease-free seed potatoes is equally true in the case of seeds 

 proper. Yet our experience has shown that to demand absolute freedom from 

 disease would at present not be practicable. In consequence, we have adopted 

 a standard in regard to disease that for the present is as good as can possibly 

 be achieved. No doubt as time goes on and conditions still further improve, 

 we shall still be able to increase the quality of seed potatoes. In certain diseases 



