CONTROL SERIES No. 47 



Early in June 12 varieties of seeds were planted to be tested for trueness to 

 name. These included 5 varieties of alfalfa, 1 of sweet clover, 4 of medium red 

 clover and 2 of mammoth red clover. The seeds were planted in rows 3 feet apart. 

 Each variety occupied approximately 24 feet in the row. All the seed was inocu- 

 lated with Humogerm. Ground limestone, at the rate of 1 J^ tons per acre, was 

 applied about a month prior to seeding, and disked into the soU. Fertilizer was 

 also applied in adequate quantities. 



From the nature of this test it will be necessary to wait until the second growing 

 season before definite characteristics of the plants appear, and for that reason 

 nothing more than a preliminary statement is in order at this time. There seems 

 to be no question but that the sweet clover was properly labeled. Some of the 

 alfalfas appear quite certainly to be variegated strains, wliich would indicate that 

 they may be Grimm alfalfa. It is too early, however, to definitely decide. 

 Nothing can be said as to the clovers because the growth habits are so similar the 

 first year. 



True Type Vegetable Tests 



The true type tests were an attempt to determine through actual field trials 

 whether the seed sold for market garden crops was true to type and strain. These 

 crops were grown at the Market Garden Field Station at Waltham, under the 

 supervision of Mr. Ray M. Koon and Mr. Paul W. Dempsey. The entire range of 

 market garden crops could not be covered in one season owing to the expense of 

 carrying out such tests. This year the trials were limited to cabbage, caiTots, 

 celery, lettuce, spinach, and squash. Unfortunately the carrot crop was a com- 

 plete failure. The seed selected was purchased from twelve representative dealers, 

 either by a mail order placed by someone not connected with the work or by an 

 inspector where the seed house was located in Massachusetts. At the outset it 

 was planned to select the same varieties of seed from each dealer. This was not 

 found practical in every case and some substitutions were made. Before planting, 

 all seeds were subjected to germination tests. In order to insure a sufficient num- 

 ber of plants for a fair trial, the varieties of carrot, lettuce, and spinach were 

 planted in rows 40 feet in length; SO plants of each variety of celery, 25 plants of 

 each variety of cabbage, and 5 hills of squash were used. 



The results obtained were not sufficiently definite to cause an unqualified 

 endorsement or condemnation of any particular dealer, although in a number of 

 instances seeds were neither true to type nor of good germinating quality. In the 

 following tabulation true type is expressed in terms of percentage: 



Cabbage 



Remarks: 

 Golden Acre. 



One lot, large frame late Copenhagen type. 

 Two lots, large frame. 



