SEED INSPECTION 3 



The law provides for the testing of seeds for trueness to type and variety under 

 actual field conditions. It is intended to carry on this particular work from year 

 to year to the extent allowed by available, funds, special attention being paid 

 to those crops where the need for such investigation appears to be greatest. 

 During the present season tests on vegetable seeds were made at the Market 

 Garden Field Station at Waltham, and the Experiment Station Department of 

 Agronomy made tests on samples of clover, alfalfa and sweet clover which were 

 collected by the inspector. A report of this work by the investigators in charge is 

 included in this bulletin. 



The Massachusetts seed law follows: 



[Chap. 274.] 

 An Act to Regulate the Sale of Agricultural Seeds. 



Be it enacted, etc., as follows: 



Section 1. Section one of chapter ninety-four of the General Laws, as 

 amended by chapter one hundred and seventeen of the acts of nineteen hundred 

 and twenty-five, is hereby further amended by adding at the end thereof the 

 following: — 



"Agricultural seeds" or "agricultural seed," in sections two hundred and sixty- 

 one A to two hundred and sixty-one L, inclusive, the seeds of Canada Blue grass, 

 Kentucky Blue grass, Brome grass, fescues, millets, tall meadow oat grass, 

 orchard grass, red top. Bent grasses, Italian rye-grass, perennial rye-grass, sorg- 

 hum, Sudan grass, timothy, alfalfa, alsike clover, red clover, white clover, Canada 

 field peas, cowpeas, soybeans, vetches, and other grasses and forage plants, buck- 

 wheat, flax, rape, barley, field corn, oats, rye, wheat, and other cereals, mangels, 

 onions and vegetables which are sold, offered or exposed for sale within this com- 

 monwealth for use for seeding purposes therein. 



"Noxious weed seeds," in sections two hundred and sixty-one A to two hundred 

 and sixty-one L, inclusive, the seeds of quack grass (Agropyron Repens), Canada 

 thistle (Cirsium Arvense), dodder species (Cuscuta Spp.) and wild mustard. 

 (Brassica Arvensis). 



"Weed seeds," in sections two hundred and sixty-one A to two hundred and 

 sixty-one L, inclusive, all seeds other than agricultural seeds as defined in this sec- 

 tion. 



"Inert matter," in sections two hundred and sixty-one A to two hundred and 

 sixty-one L, inclusive, all foreign matter other than seeds. 



"Lot," in sections two hundred and sixty-one A to two hundred and sixty-one 

 L, inclusive, contents of any container, open or sealed, from which or in which 

 agricultural seeds are sold, offered or exposed for sale. 



Section 2. Said chapter ninety-four is hereby further amended by inserting 

 after section two hundred and sixty-one, under the heading "Agricultural Seeds," 

 the following twelve new sections: — 



Section 261 A. Every lot of agricultural seeds of ten pounds or more, except 

 as otherwise provided in sections two hundred and sixty-one B to two hundred and 

 sixty-one L, inclusive, shall have affixed thereto, in a conspicuous place, on the 

 exterior of the container of such agricultural seeds, a plainly written or printed 

 tag or label in the English language, stating: 



(a) The commonly accepted name of such agricultural seeds. 



(b) The approximate percentage, by weight, of purity; meaning, the freedom 

 of such agricultural seeds from inert matter and from other seeds distinguishable 

 by their appearance. 



(c) The approximate total percentage, by weight, of weed seeds. 



(d) The name and approximate number per ounce of each kind of noxious 

 weed seeds, which are present, singly or collectively, as follows: (1) in excess of one 

 seed in each five grams of seeds of grasses, alfalfa and clovers; (2) in excess of one 

 seed in each twenty-five grams of millets, rape, Sudan grass and other seeds of 

 similar size not specified in subdivision (1) or (3) of this paragraph; (3) in excess 

 of one seed in each hundred grams of wheat, oats, rye, barley, buckwheat, vetches, 

 soybeans, cowpeas and other seeds as large or larger than wheat. 



