Sept., 1916] RESULTS OF SEED TESTS, 1916. 25 



HEPORT OF MEETING OF SEED ANALYSTS OF NOETH 



AMERICA. 



In accordance with instructions from the New Hampshire 

 Commissioner of Agriculture the writer attended the annual 

 ■convention of the Seed Analysts of North America held at 

 Minneapolis, July 13-15, 1916. 



The meeting was attended by about thirty men and women 

 representing fifteen states, the U. S. Department of Agricul- 

 ture and the Canadian Department of Agriculture. 



After the preliminary business the first order was the report 

 of the Referee on Germination. Following the annual cus- 

 tom this referee selects seeds for tests and submits composite 

 samples to the various laboratories throughout the country, 

 with the idea that by an examination of the results obtained 

 each laboratory may be made more efficient and that in the 

 end the best methods of sampling and testing may be adopted 

 ■as standard. 



The report of the Germination Referee showed a consider- 

 able variation in the tests of different laboratories. INIost of 

 the variations, however, were within the limits of error al- 

 lowed. The results obtained in our own laboratory were em- 

 inently satisfactory, except in the case of Kentucky bluegrass, 

 redtop and certain garden seeds, which seem to recjuire the 

 services of a sunlight germinator which we have not yet in- 

 stalled. 



The Referee on Purity conducted a series of tests similar to 

 those on germination. He also found considerable variation 

 of results among the different laboratories. The tests made 

 in the New Hampshire laboratory, however, proved to be with- 

 in the limits of error in every case. The referee emphasized 

 the importance of the following points in his report : 



(1) The difficulty of identifying and separating some 

 of the impurities found in certain samples. 



(2) Accurate weighing on delicate balances. 



(3) Securing a representative portion of the seed for 

 a test. 



The Referee on Sampling reported that he bad found much 

 variation in the purity of seeds coming from two different 

 "bags of the same lot; also variation between seed from the top 

 and seed from the bottom of the same bag. The data Avhicli he 

 presented, while not conclusive, emphasized the importance of 

 securing a sample for test from several different places in a 

 bag or lot of seed. 



The report of the Committee on a Uniform Seed Law was 

 submitted, but owing to lack of time and the tardy arrival of 



