BIENNIAL REPORT, 1927 AND 1928 321 



Seed Control. (O. W. Kelly, C. L. Beane). A new seed law administered 

 by the State Department of Agriculture became effective Nov. 1, 1927. 

 A seed laboratory for the examination of official samples collected by the 

 Department of Agriculture has been established at the Experiment Sta- 

 tion. This work also includes the examination of seed samples submitted 

 by seedsmen, farmers, and others, for which a fee sufficient to cover the 

 actual cost is charged. During the present year, in addition to estab- 

 lishing the laboratory there have been examined 80 samples of seeds and 

 seed mixtures for purity, 489 for germination only, and 220 samples for 

 both purity and germination tests. A larger number of samples will be 

 examined in 1929. The first year's work has demonstrated the value of 

 seed inspection service. In addition to the laboratory examinations, field 

 tests have been conducted on clovers and alfalfas by the Department of 

 Agronomy, and upon vegetable seeds by the Market Garden Field Sta- 

 tion, in order to determine trueness to type. 



Dairy Law. (P. H. Smith, J. T. Howard, H. L. Allen). The work 

 under this law involves: 



1. The testing of Babcock glassware for accuracy. 



2. The examination and award of certificates of proficiency in the use 

 of the Babcock test to applicants. 



3. The annual inspection of creameries, milk depots, and board of 

 health laboratories where the test is used as a basis for fixing the value 

 of milk and cream. 



During the two years ending December I, 1928, 15,253 pieces of Bab- 

 cock glassware were tested. Condemned bottles amounted to less than 

 one per cent of the total tested. One hundred and forty-four certificates 

 of proficiency were awarded. In 1927, 136 creameries, milk depots, and 

 milk inspectors' laboratories were visited in order to check methods and 

 pass upon equipment in use. This work has not been completed for 1928. 



Advanced Registry Testing. (P. H. Smith). The testing of pure bred 

 cows for advanced registry in cooperation with breeders and pure bred 

 cattle associations has been under the direction of Feed Control since its 

 beginning in 1902. For several years the volume of work has not materi- 

 ally changed. The average monthly record shows about eighty farms hav- 

 ing cows on test, about 600 cows under test, and from eight to ten 

 supervisors continuously on the road to care for the work. Advanced 

 Registry Testing is supported entirely by the breeders having animals 

 under test. Reimbursement is made not only for the supervisors, but 

 for the office expenses as well. 



Miscellaneous Work. (P. H. Smith, H. R. DeRose, J. W. Kuzmeski, M. W. 

 Goodwin). The resources of this department are available for the analysis 

 of milk, cream, and feeding stuffs submitted by farmers and others. For 

 this service a fee is usually charged. A considerable number of analyses are 

 also made for other departments of the College in connection with ex- 

 perimental work. Especial equipment has been installed for drying large 

 samples of forage crops. 



