SEED INSPECTION 



By F. A. McLaughlin' 



This bulletin gives the results of analysis of official seed samples collected by 

 the State Department of Agriculture, during the year 1936, from the open 

 markets in 76 towns and cities of Massachusetts and analyzed at the Seed 

 Testing Laboratory of the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station at 

 Amherst. Between October 1, 1935 and October 1, 1936, the Seed Laboratory 

 analyzed 1,439 samples, of which 850 were collected by the State Department 

 of Agriculture and 589 submitted by dealers and farmers. In addition, 203 

 ingredients, found in special mixtures, were given viability tests as a check on 

 the quality of seeds in these mixtures, sampled during 1936. The total number 

 of samples worked in the laboratory, therefore, really amounts to 1,642 without 

 taking into account many retests made necessary by certain samples falling 

 far below the given guarantee. 



This bulletin also contains results of field tests for trueness to type of 150 

 lots of vegetable seeds and 104 lots of flower seeds. Comments, together with 

 the analytical tables of the flower seeds used in field tests are also given. An 

 increased number of samples of onion seed produced in the Connecticut Valley 

 gave us an opportunity to investigate the methods employed in cleaning this 

 seed and, by developing a cleaning method for the lots of onion seed submitted 

 to the laboratory for cleaning and for viability tests, to draw certain conclusions 

 as to the quality of this locally-produced seed. Comments and an analytical 

 table are presented in this bulletin. 



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 

 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. Atten- 

 tion is called to certain irregularities by the following: 



The asterisk (*) shows violation in labeling. 



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

 noxious weeds not declared, 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 (as shown by given date or by correspondence with the whole- 

 saler) . 



(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. 



■Assisted by Miss Olive M. Hoefle, Technical Assistant 



