-I A N. H. EXPERIMENT STATION [Bulletin 188 



LABELING. 



The law does not apply to the common five- and ten-cent pack- 

 ages of garden and flower seeds. Only seeds sold in bulk or in 

 packages of one pound or more are subject to the provisions of 

 the law and are required to be accompanied by a guarantee stat- 

 ing their percentage of purity and vitality. 



The guarantee or label may be of any form desired by the 

 seller of the seeds, as a tag, sticker or direct brand upon the 

 container. It must, however, be plainly written or printed, and 

 placed distinctly visible to the purchaser. Each dealer will pro- 

 vide his own labels. 



TAKING OF SAMPLES. 



To secure a fair average sample of a lot or bulk, take small 

 quantities from all of the bags or from different parts of any 

 particular bulk. IMix thoroughly and take out the sample to be 

 inspected. When the seeds are in bags or large bins, the use of 

 a grain sampler is most convenient, since this will insure getting 

 seeds from the top, middle and bottom alike. Since the report 

 of the analysis is based upon the nature of the sample inspected, 

 it is important that the sample be carefully taken. 



SIZE AND AMOUNTS OF SAMPLES. 



The size and amount of the samples necessary for a test will 

 depend upon tlie size and weiglit of the seeds. About one-half 

 ounce or a tablespoon ful of the smaller grass and vegetable seeds, 

 like alsike and white clover, red top, lettuce, onions, radish, 

 turnip, etc. ; about one ounce or two tablespoonfuls of the larger 

 seeds, like timothy, millet, red clover, alfalfa, rape, etc. ; and 

 about four ounces or a small cupful of the cereal grains or vege- 

 table seeds, like oats, barley, corn, peas, beans, etc., should be 

 sent. 



TESTS AND EXAMINATIONS. 



Section 2 of the law states the provisions under which the 

 tests and analyses shall be made. The sellers or dealers who 

 desire to base their guarantees upon tests made by themselves 

 or their agents must first secure the approval of the Commis- 

 sioner of Agriculture of the methods to be used in making the 

 tests, and of the person who is to conduct thera. 



Althougli the law makes no provision for the expenses of the 

 seed tests, the Department of Agriculture has arranged with 

 the Experiment Station to have the tests made /ree of charge 

 to all dealers and farmers resident in the state. 



SENDING OF SAMPLES. 



Samples sent to the Experiment Station for testing should be 

 enclosed in a strong paper envelope and securely fastened. They 

 should not be sent in bottles or glass jars, owing to the danger 

 of breakage. "When a number of samples are to be sent they 

 should be put up securely in a single package and forwarded 



