SEED INSPECTION 11 



Conclusions 



The initial year's work indicates that the seed offered for sale in Massachusetts 

 is of good average quality. Instances of the sale of inferior seed are of frequent 

 enough occurrence, however, to justify this form of inspection service. 



Farmers who purchase seeds of reputable seedsmen need have little fear of fail- 

 ing to secure what they demand. Many of the wholesale dealers whose business 

 is of sufficient volume to warrant the practice maintain their own laboratories in 

 order to protect themselves and the people to whom they sell. 



The wisdom of purchasing guaranteed seeds of high quality needs no argument 

 to justify the practice. The farmer who uses inferior seed which fails to germinate 

 or who introduces noxious weeds on to his land through the purchase of foul seed 

 greatly increases the cost of growing his crop. Seeds which bear the "Not 

 Tested" label may be cheaper to purchase but may actually cost more before the 

 crop is harvested. 



In the 1927 report of Seed Analyses in the state of Pennsylvania are found the 

 following pertinent statements: 



1. "Weeds are estimated to cost the farmer $2.00 per acre for every acre of 

 tillable land." 



2. "Cheap seeds are a common source of weed infestation." 



3. "The presence of weed seeds makes cheap seed expensive." 



4. "Quality should be the first consideration, price second." 



Publication of this document approved by the Commission on Administration and Finance. 

 5M-3-'29. No. 5069. 



