RESULTS OF SEED TESTS 

 Made July 1, 1937, to June 30, 1938 



This report contains the results of the inspection for 

 the State Department of Agriculture of three hundred 

 and ninety-two official samples collected throughout the 

 State during the period from July 1, 1937, to June 30, 

 1938. Each of these samples was analyzed and the re- 

 sults mailed to the retail dealers concerned. In addition 

 to these oft'icial samples, fifty-one private samples Avere 

 analyzed, making a total of four hundred and forty-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 guar- 

 antee. The i)urpose 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 remarked or removed from sale. 



The attention of seed purchasers should be called to 

 the fact that the germination figure is based on the ])ure 

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

 seeds in every hundred that are capable of growth. Tlie 

 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 in- 

 stance, in the case of a sample of unhulled Red Top, 

 guaranteed 50 ])er cent purity and 90 per cent germina- 

 tion, the actual seeding value of the sample is .50 x .90, 

 or 45 per cent (not 90 per cent as miglit be assumed from 

 looking at the germination only.) In other Avords, 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 

 sam])le of alsike clover, guaranteed 91.15 per cent purity. 



*Miss Ruth Davison and Miss Dorothy Phelps assisted with the germination 

 and purity tests herein reported. For their services the writer wishes to ex- 

 press grateful acknowledgement. 



