RESULTS OF SEED TESTS 

 Made July 1, 1935 to June 30, 1936 



This report contains the results of the inspection 

 for the State Department of Agriculture of four hundred and 

 thirty official samples collected throughout the State 

 during the period from July 1, 1935, to June 30, 1936. Each 

 of these samples was analyzed and the results mailed to the 

 retail dealers concerned. In addition to these official 

 samples, fifty-seven private samples were analyzed, making 

 a total of four hundred and eighty-seven samples inspected. 



The seed law does not prohibit the sale of poor seed 

 but it does require that all seed be labelled to show its 

 quality. The buyer is protected by observing the guarantee. 

 The purpose of the seed inspection work is to determine, 

 within reasonable limits, whether a sample of seed is as good 

 as it is guaranteed to be. Samples found "below" must be re- 

 marked or removed from sale. 



The attention of seed purchasers should be called to 

 the fact that the germination figure is based on the pure 

 seed present, and is a statement of the actual number of seeds 

 in every hundred that are capable of growth. The actual value 

 of a sample for production purposes cannot be greater than the 

 product of the percentage of purity multiplied by the percent- 

 age of germination. For instance, in the case of a sample of 

 unhulled Red Top, guaranteed 50 per cent purity and 90 per cent 

 germination, the actual seeding value of the sample is 

 .50 x .90, or 45 per cent (not 90/£ as might be assumed from 

 looking at the germination only). In other words, 45 per cent 

 of the weight of that sample is live seed, the rest is inert 

 matter or dead seeds. Likewise, in the case of a sample of 

 Alsike Clover, guaranteed 91.15 per cent purity, and 87 per 

 cent germination, the actual seeding value of the sample is 

 .9115 x .87, or 79 per cent. 



A certain amount of variation is to be expected in 

 comparing the results of two or more purity analyses. For this 

 reason a "tolerance" or difference is allowed between the 

 average results of our tests and the guarantee in accordance 

 with the following formula. The sample is considered as being 

 made up of two parts, the one being the pure seed and the other 

 the balance of the sample. The tolerance in per cent allowed 

 for the larger part or pure seed is two-tenths of one per cent 



