SEED INSPECTION 



By F. A. McLaughlin and Margaret E. Nagle 



The first annual inspection of Massachusetts seed was conducted by the Com- 

 missioner of Agriculture in 1928. Since then inspections have been made each 

 vear — a total of four inspections since the Seed Law became effective November 

 1, 1927. 



The accompanying map shows where inspections of dealers' stock have been 

 made over this period of time. It will be noted that inspections have not been 

 made in every town and city of the State, but that every year the larger centers 

 of distribution have been covered and each year new territory has been added 

 to that already worked. Progressively the entire State will be covered in this 

 manner, and when this has been done it may be possible each year to cover larger 

 portions of the State imtil finally each annual inspection may cover nearly, if not 

 all, the State. In the meantime, the organization of inspection and laboratory 

 facilities for analysis of samples collected may be perfected for handling the very 

 much increased number of samples. 



The number of samples of seed received by the Seed Laboratory has increased 

 each year since 1928 when the laboratorj^ was established. From October 1, 1930, 

 to October 1, 1931, a total of 1135 samples of seed was received for analy.sis, 

 germination, or both. The official samples collected by inspectors numbered 469; 

 those sent in by seedsmen and farmers, 454; and by the Commissioner of Agri- 

 culture of Rhode Island, 212. This bulletin records analysis and germin.ation of 

 the official samples only. However, it includes also the results of field tests for 

 trueness to type and variety of Alfalfa, Red Clover, Sweet Clover, Onions, and 

 Peas. Professor Miles Cubbon of the Agronomy Department, Professor Grant 

 B. Snyder of the Vegetable Gardening Department, and Professor O. C. Boyd, 

 Extension Pathologist, cooperated with the Seed Laboratory in conducting these 

 tests. 



1931 Official Inspection of Agricultural Seeds 

 Explanation of Tables 



In these tables the seeds are listed in alphabetical order by groups, each group 

 containing only those seeds, the sale of which is regulated by a definite section 

 of the Massachusetts Seed Law. Section 261-A of the Acts and Resolves of 1927, 

 Chapter 274, defines the group from Alfalfa to Vetch, inclusive; Section 261-B, 

 Mixtures; Section 261-C, Special Mixtures; and Section 261-D, Vegetables. 



The number preceding each analysis is for identification and reference. The 

 line to the right of the letter "L" gives information copied from the label; that 

 to the right of " F ", what was found in the laboratory analysis. Attention is called 

 to certain irregularities by the following: 



The asterisk (*) shows violation in labeling. 



Boldface type indicates low purity, low germination, excessive weed seed, or 

 excessive inert material, depending upon the column in which it is found. 



(1) Date of test indicates that this seed was matured and marketed prior to 

 August 1, 1930. 



All lots of seed included in this report were tested according to the Rules for 

 Seed Testing adopted by the Association of Official Seed Analysts. 



"Tolerance" is applied to both purity and germination, except in those tables 

 which list seeds falling under sections of the law not requiring purity or germin- 

 ation on the label. For the application of " Purity Tolerance, " the sample is con- 

 sidered as made up of two component parts; (1) the component being considered, 

 and (2) the balance of the sample. The tolerance in percentage allowed for each 

 component shall be two-tenths of one per cent (0.2%) plus 20 per cent of the lesser 

 of the two parts. "Germination Tolerance" has been applied between a given 

 germination and the result of the germination test as follows: 



Given Germination (%) Allowable Variation (%) 



90 or over 6 



80 or over, but less than 90 7 



70 or over, but less than 80 8 



60 or over, but less than 70 9 



Less than 60 10 



