CONTROL SERIES No. 77 



many states (Seed Control Bulletin 56, 1930, page 4). This record shows much 

 to be desired in quality of many vegetable seeds sold in Massachusetts. One 

 cause of the poor showing is the practice among retailers of offering for sale 

 seed which has been in their possession for one or more years. Seeds of certain 

 varieties may retain satisfactory viability for several years if properly stored, 

 but other kinds lose a large part of their viability in one year. Where old seed 

 is noted in the tables, we believe the wholesaler should be for the most part 

 absolved from blame. 



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 Timothy, 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. 



Other deficiencies are enumerated as follows: 



(1) Noxious weeds found. 



(2) Old seed. 



(3) Ingredient found, but not declared. 



(4) Ingredient declared, but not found. 



(5) Ingredient declared, but percentage found after adding proper tolerance 

 is less than 5 %. 



(6) Term not specific. 



The letter "R" after the germination percentage in the table of vegetable 

 seeds indicates that the sample has received one or more retests. 



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 germina- 

 tion on the label. For the application of ''Purity Tolerance"', the sample is 

 considered 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 

 twenty per cent (20%) 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 GerminaHon 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 



