4 CONTROL SERIES No. 80 



Number Name oj Seed Germination, Percent 



Tested 



Lowest Highest Average 



38 Kentucky Bluegrass 10 80 57. 18 



20 Timothy 32 89 70.75 



30 White Clover 39-14 89-1 76-6 



20 Chewing's Fescue 10 81 38 



6 Rough Stalked Meadow Grass 34 57 47 



33 Redtop 66 95 82.58 



9 Canada Bluegrass 44 80 69.33 



29 Domestic Ryegrass 59 98 90.31 



1 Meadow Fescue 80 



1 Fine Leaved Fescue 40 



1 Crested Dog's-tail 82 



1 Perennial Ryegrass 94 



3 Red Fescue 7 70 32 



Although many of the samples contained seed of high quality in both purity 

 and germination, the low germination shown for ingredients of many samples 

 indicates clearly the use of low-grade seed. In other instances, low germination 

 appears to be due to age rather than to poor quality. This is most often due to 

 the fact that the mixtures had been held in stock several years by the retailer 

 before a sample was taken by an inspector. 



Low germination of Chewing's Fescue may be expected sometimes two or 

 three months from the date when the mixture is made. Because this seed loses 

 viability oftentimes in a relatively short period of time, the purchaser will do 

 well, when using this seed in mixtures, to have his mixture made to order rather 

 than to select a ready-made mixture containing Chewing's Fescue. 



As a protection to the public, the mixture section of the law should be amended 

 to require that the label show approximate percentage of each kind of seed used 

 in the mixture; the germination of each kind of seed; and the year and month 

 when the test was made. 



Vegetable Seeds 



All of the 489 samples of vegetable seed tested under this section of the law 

 lived up to the label requirements which, in Massachusetts, do not require a 

 statement of germination or the year and month in which a germination test 

 was made. Although much of this seed, as shown by germination tests, was of 

 excellent quality, 149 samples (30.47%) gave a germination below the standards 

 required by law in many states (see Control Bulletin 56, 1930, p. 4). The quality 

 of seed is shown to be slightly better than that of the 1934 inspection, in which 

 38.2% fell below standard. Yet the fact remains that much of the seed sold in 

 Massachusetts is not of the desired high quality. Probably very little improve- 

 ment can be expected until the present law is amended to require that a state- 

 ment of the germination and the date when this test was made be placed upon 

 the container in which vegetable seeds are offered for sale. Such a requirement 

 should make the retailer more cautious about offering for sale old seed which he 

 has held for several seasons, and at the same time give the purchaser an oppor- 

 tunity to note the age and performance of the seed from an examination of the 

 label. 



Explanation of the 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 



