1910.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 57 



SEED PURITY WORK, 1909. 



BY G. H. CHAPMAN. 



The testing of seeds for purity was not taken up at this sta- 

 tion to any extent before 1908. In 1908 only about 12 samples 

 of seed were sent in to this department for examination as to 

 purity, but owing to other States having taken the matter up 

 in a very decided manner, and some of them passing seed laws 

 for the regulation of the sale of commercial seeds, the seedsmen 

 and farmers of Massachusetts began to take interest in the 

 matter. 



The seeds found in the Massachusetts market are in general 

 of very good quality, when purchased from well-known, reliable 

 dealers, but since laws have been passed in other States suj^pres- 

 sing the sale of impure seeds in those States, it has become 

 customary with certain seedsmen to ship poor quality seeds out 

 of the State, and place them for sale in States which have no 

 such seed law. This has been brought to our attention more 

 forcibly this year than ever in the past, and the farmers of this 

 State are beginning to pay more attention to the matter, as is 

 evidenced by the increased number of samples sent in for purity 

 tests. In all, 100 samples have been examined this year, and it 

 has been deemed advisable to make a report of the work done at 

 this time. 



Most of the seeds examined were offered for sale by reliable 

 dealers in this and other States, and such can be bought with 

 reasonable assurance, as these dealers are, in the main, careful 

 to offer only a good grade of seed, and usually advise the pur- 

 chase of their best grades. This is not because it brings them 

 in a larger profit, but because the best grade of seed is usually 

 purer than other grades of the same seed offered by them at a 

 lower price. It is to their advantage to offer a good article, as 

 well as to the farmer's advantage to buy a good article ; but, as 



