52 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Seed Trade Association, exert a powerful influence against 

 the practice now quite too common and regarded with too 

 much leniency, of mislabelling stocks and selling them for 

 what they are not. They can do a great deal towards the 

 establishing of clearly defined variations or types and the 

 general acceptance of them, and of the names by which they 

 shall be known as standards with which all other variations 

 can be compared. They can discourage — indeed, they could 

 if they would practically put a stop to — the present prac- 

 tice of using entirely distinct varietal names for stocks whose 

 only difference is the degree to which they are free from 

 mixtures, and are made up of plants which are good speci- 

 mens of the same type, thus using varietal names to indicate 

 quality rather than type. I believe that the present multi- 

 plication of names and the want of definitions of the type 

 for which they stand are chiefly due to this practice, and 

 that if it could be prevented it would be of immense benefit 

 to all who deal in or use seeds. Lastly, but by no means 

 least, it is entirely practical for them, through the use of 

 better stock seed procured as was the watermelon seed re- 

 ferred to, to greatly improve the uniformity and adherence 

 to type of the stocks they offer. 



The horticultural and general press can help the user of 

 vegetables to a better understanding of real values. It has 

 been truly and tersely said that " the American tastes with 

 his eyes," and it seems to be true, at least as far as vege- 

 tables are concerned, for appearance, both on the dealer's 

 stand and the user's table, has a far greater influence in de- 

 termining popularity than quality. A handsome sort which 

 shows up well will outsell both as to quantity and price one 

 which is of much better quality though less attractive. 



Lastly, the gardeners and actual seed users can do more 

 to bring about an improvement in the quality of the seed 

 sold than can any one else. Many gardeners act as if, though 

 seed were essential for the raising of the crop, they were so 

 only in the same way that manure or water are essential, the 

 only important thing being that they will grow. They want 

 seed and plants of a certain name and type, but do not act 

 as if they knew that the degree to which all the plants grown 



