CONTROL SERIES No. 102 



1939 OFFICIAL INSPECTION OF AGRICULTURAL SEEDS 



From December 1, 1938, to December 1, 1939, the Seed Laboratory received 

 and worked 2663 samples of seed, of which 1003 were collected by the State Com- 

 missioner of Agriculture and 1661 were sent in by seedsmen, farmers, and various 

 state institutions. An additional lot of 224 samples of flower seeds, for field tests 

 only, was also received from the State Commissioner of Agriculture. 



Classification of these samples with the total number of laboratory tests in- 

 volved is shown in the following summary. It will be noted that the total number 

 of tests required for the 2663 samples was 3763; 857 for purity and 2906 for 

 germination. 



Number of number of tests 



Samples Purity Germination 



544 Field Crops for Purity and Germination 644 644 



14 Field Crops for Purity Only 14 



123 Field Crops for Germination Only 123 



103 Lawn and other types of Mixtures for Purity 103 456 



Germinations involving 456 ingredients 



96 Lawn Mixtures for Purity Only 96 



1501 Vegetable Seeds for Germination Only 1501 



37 Flower Seeds for Germination Only 37 



22 Tree Seeds for Germination Only 22 



123 Tobacco Seeds for Germination Only 123 



2663 Totals 857 2906 



Field tests to determine trueness to type were conducted in cooperation with 

 the Departments of Vegetable Gardening, Floriculture, and Agronomy, which 

 tested respectively 193 samples of Vegetable seeds, 224 samples of Flower seeds, 

 20 samples of Oats and 73 samples of Corn. All samples for these tests were 

 collected and submitted by the State Commissioner of Agriculture, with the ex- 

 ception of 4 samples of Oats, which were sent in by seedsmen. Results of field 

 tests, except for Oats which were not recorded because of unsatisfactory soil 

 conditions, are shown on Pages 83-103. 



The Seed Laboratory cleaned 7 lots of Onion seed and 73 lots of Tobacco seed 

 for Connecticut Valley farmers. 



Explanation of 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 1937, 

 and 1938, Chapters 288 and 363, defines the group from Alfalfa to Wheat, in- 

 clusive; 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. Attention is 

 called to certain irregularities by the following: 



The asterisk (*) shows violation in labeling. 



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

 percentage of ingredient found deficient after adding proper tolerance, or excessive 

 inert material, depending upon the column in which it is found. 



