18 



EXPERHIEXT STATION. 



[Jan. 



The mimbor of poinuls of seed separated is not so large as 

 last year, although the number of samples is greater. The total 

 number of pounds separated was 1,517, about 1,300 pounds of 

 it being onion seed. The percentage of seed discarded Avas from 

 11 to 19 per cent., the largest amount being discarded from let- 

 tuce seed. Practically all the lettuce seed received for separa- 

 tion is sent in by the market-gardeners around Boston. 



Records of Seed Separation, 1912. 



Name of Seed. 



Number 



of 

 Samples. 



Weight 

 (Pounds). 



Per Cent, 

 of Seed 

 retained. 



Per Cent. 



of Seed 

 discarded. 



Tobacco, . 

 Onion, 

 Lettuce, . 

 Celery, . 

 Beet, 

 Radish, . 

 Totals, 



51 37 



1,298.62 



133 62 



1.38 



27.56 



5 51 



1,517 88 



88.70 

 88 10 

 80 06 

 86.40 

 81.60 

 83 20 



11 30 

 11 90 

 19.94 

 13.60 

 18 40 

 16.80 



The number of purity tests made during the year was 82, the 

 see'd coming in some cases from farmers, and in others from 

 seed merchants. Occasionally farmers buy their seed, or decide 

 not to, on the strength of these tests. 



IVfore purity tests were made of timothy than of any other 

 seed, 17 samples being tested, followed by 11 for red clover and 

 11 for red top. The total number of species of foreigii seed 

 found in these tests was 51, 34 being regarded as noxious and 

 17 as harmless. These foreign seeds are by no means abundant, 

 and are often difficult to remove even by the most improved 

 methods of seed separation. 



