P.D. 123 27 



Grading Law." The enactment of these two laws by the General Court 

 of 1927 unquestionably will be of great assistance to the farmers. 



The Massachusetts seed law requires that on and after November 1, 

 1927 every "lot" of agricultural or vegetable seed sold, offered or exposed 

 for sale in the Commonwealth must be labeled. The Massachusetts seed 

 law is based upon the proposed Uniform State Seed Law as accepted by 

 the Association of Official Seed Analysts and is designed to afford pro- 

 tection both to the buyer who intends to sow the seed and the seed dealer 

 himself. 



The required label on agricultural seeds must give the purity, germina- 

 tion, amount of weed seed present and must show definitely the quantity 

 of noxious weed seed in the mixture. 



With regard to vegetable seeds the law requires that every lot of vege- 

 table seed whether in packet or open container must bear a tag or label 

 showing: (1) the kind of seed and variety, (2) the name and address of 

 the person or firm who is selling such' vegetable seed. 



Another important feature of the law is the label requirement of un- 

 tested seeds. Seeds in this class must bear a label stating: (1) that such 

 seed is "not tested" and, (2) the name and address of the party offering 

 such seed for sale. 



The Seed Law provides for the right of the Commissioner of Agricul- 

 ture or his assistant to have access to any premises at all reasonable hours 

 for the purpose of inspection of any lot of seed. The Commissioner and 

 his representatives have also authority to enforce the law and prosecute 

 all violations. 



The Farm Products Grading Law provides for the establishment of 

 grades and standards of farm products and the designing or determina- 

 tion of brands or labels for the purpose of identifying such farm products. 

 This is an optional law and applies only to those persons who have made 

 written requests to the Commissioner of Agriculture for permission to 

 use brands or labels and the acceptance of these requests. 



The law provides for penalties in case the provisions of the law have 

 been violated. 



A detailed record was kept on all agricultural bills presented to the 

 legislature and the action taken upon them. 



A policy of prevention rather than prosecution in dealing with the law 

 enforcement program of the Department has been in effect during the 

 past year and the results have been encouraging. 



Forty cases of violations of the Corn Borer Law were tried in th« Dis- 

 trict Courts of Brockton, Framingham and Harwich. Approximately 200 

 cases of reported violations of the Corn Borer Law were heard in the 

 State House by a board consisting of the Agriculturist and the Director 

 of the Division of Plant Pest Control. Several visits were made to dif- 

 ferent towns in the Commonwealth where the parties concerned were 

 sick or for other suitable reasons were unable to report to the State House 

 for a hearing and these cases wei'e taken care of in the field. 



The corn borer hearings have been very effective in bringing to the 

 attention of the corn growers the necessity of compliance with the Corn 

 Borer Law as the best means of checking this dangerous pest. 



Seventeen cases of oleomargarine violations were tried in the several 

 District Courts and approximately 70 cases of reported violations sum- 

 moned to hearings in the State House before a board composed of the 

 Agriculturist and the inspector reporting the violations. 



Four violations of the Apple Grading Law were tried before the Dis- 

 trict Courts and 130 reported violations were heard at the State House 

 by a committee composed of the Agriculturist and the inspector reporting 

 said violations. 



Visits were made to reclamation projects in the process of development 

 and advice was given relative to legal procedure in connection with 

 reclamation activities. Two visits made to contemplated reclamation 



