24 CONTROL SERIES NO. 183 



FIELD TESTS OF VEGETABLE SEEDS 

 TYPE AND VARIETY STUDIES— SECTION 261 H 



The year 1959 marks the 24th year field tests have been conducted by the State 

 Seed Laboratory to determine field germination and trueness-to-type of certain 

 kinds of vegetable seed offered for sale in the Commonwealth. This year these 

 tests were run on beets and summer squash from samples collected by our State 

 Seed Inspectors. These samples were taken from 41 retail establishments and 

 represent the offerings of 35 wholesale seedsmen doing business in the Common- 

 wealth. 



Twenty-nine samples of summer squash representing seven varieties, and 

 forty-nine samples of beets representing fifteen varieties, were field tested. All 

 samples of both summer squash and beets were subjected to laboratory germina- 

 tion tests prior to field testing. 



The summer squash was planted on May 28th. Each sample of seed was 

 planted in duplicate plots with seven hills to each plot. There were four plants 

 in each hill and the hills were spaced six feet by eight feet. Whenever possible, an 

 authentic control sample was included as a basis for comparison. Observations 

 were made several times during the growing period. All of the summer squash 

 samples were found to be properly labeled. 



On May 27th the forty-nine lots of beet seed were planted in 15-foot rows with 

 the rows three feet apart. All samples were planted in duplicate plots, and when- 

 ever possible, authentic control samples were included for comparative purposes. 

 The following information was obtained from all plots of both test and control var- 

 ieties of beets: (1) Uniformity of top growth; (2) leaves (broad, medium, narrow, 

 and percent red); (3) shape of root; (4) outside skin color; (5) zones (few or many, 

 and percentage white ); (6) interior color; (7) size of tap root; (8) size of collar; 

 and (9) the rating of each lot from 1 to 9. 



Among the samples of beet seed checked in the field only one, Massachusetts 

 Laboratory No. B-60, Detroit Dark Red, Lot No. 1-96, wholesaled by F. H. Wood- 

 ruff & Sons, Inc., and retailed by Skibiski Farm Supply Co. of South Deerfield, was 

 considered to be improperly labeled (27% of the plants were found to be off-type). 

 This sample appeared to be a mixture, since 24% of the plants had leaves that were 

 green, broad, and tall. The root was block-shaped, medium in color and show^'d a 

 heavy distinct zoning. 



Although the other beet seed samples tested were considered properly labeled, 

 they did not all give equal field performance. It cannot be emphasized too often 

 and too strongly that high quality seed will more than pay for itself in field per- 

 formance in the form of increased yields and greater uniformity. 



