RESULTS OF SEED TESTS 

 Made July 1, 1936 to June 30, 1937 



This report contains the results of the inspe^tlon^or the 

 State Department of Agriculture <?f four hundred and 

 thirty-nine official samples collected throughout the State 

 during the period from July 1, 1936, to June 30, 1937. 

 Each of these samples was analyzed and the results mailed 

 to the retail dealers concerned. In addition to these official 

 samples, sixty-four private samples were analyzed, making 

 a total of five hundred and three 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 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 

 remarked 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 percentage 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. Like- 

 wise, in the case of a sample of Alsike Clover, guaranteed 

 91.15 per cent purity, and 87 per cent germination, the 



*Miss Ruth Davison. Miss Frances McCrillis and Miss Dorothy Phelps 

 assisted with the germination and purity tests herein reported. For 

 their services the writer wishes to express grateful aclcnowledgment. 



