Feb., 1912] results of seed tests, 1911 11 



cereals, grasses, forage plants, vegetables, garden plants, and white 

 pine trees, but not including those of other trees, shrubs, and 

 ornamental plants, as pertains to their percentage of purity and 

 vitality, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one hundred 

 dollars for the first offense, and not exceeding two hundred dol- 

 lars for each subsequent offense. 



Sect. 5. The provisions of the four preceding sections shall 

 not apply to any person growing, selling, offering, or exposing for 

 sale cereals and other agricultural seeds for food. 



Sect. 6. The secretary of the State Board of Agriculture shall 

 diligently enforce the provisions of sections one and four of this 

 act, and in his discretion prosecute offenses against the same. 



THE OBJECT OF THE LAW 



The object of this law is in substance the same as that of our 

 pure food and fertilizer laws, namely, to have the buyer know just 

 wnat he is buying. It is intended to provide a means whereby 

 our farmers and other purchasers of seeds may have reliable in- 

 formation, on the basis of which they may protect themselves 

 against the introduction of noxious weeds and against loss through 

 weak or otherwise worthless seeds; also to provide a reasonable 

 protection for careful, conscientious dealers against negligent, de- 

 signing, or unscrupulous ones. 



It is not the purpose or intent of the law to work a hardship on 

 our seed dealers or to hurt their legitimate business, and neither 

 is it intended to require farmers and other growers to purchase 

 seeds of a better quality than they desire. 



LABELING 



The law does not apply to the common five and ten-cents 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 stating 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 dis- 

 tinctly visible to the purchaser. Each dealer will provide his own 

 labels. 



