82 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Discussion. 

 Mr. Hicks illustrated his lecture by four cliarts. 

 (1.) Cotton seed and its germination. 

 (2.) Grass " seed " adulterations. 

 (3.) Commercial grass "seed." 

 (4.) Ked clover seed and its principal impurities. 



William C. Strong said that he had had painful experiences 

 with seeds and could see a great difficulty in the matter of 

 guarantees ; it is a hard question for seedsmen. He had had 

 "weeds come up with his seed, and feels that we ought to take 

 some action. He requested Mr. Hicks to tell exactly Avhat ought 

 to be done. 



Mr. Hicks replied that after briefly stating the necessity to the 

 Legislature, an appropriation ought to be asked for (probably not 

 more than three or four thousand dollars would be needed for this 

 purpose) to start a Seed Control Station. Such a station could be 

 managed either in connection with this Society or some other good 

 horticultural or agricultural society, or by the State Agricultural 

 Experiment Station. Experiment Stations do not receive money 

 enough to carry on this line of work' to any extent, but they usu- 

 ally have experienced men, greenhouses, etc., Avhich would make 

 them the best places for the location of seed-testing stations. 

 The sale of seeds containing dodder, Russian thistle, and similar 

 pests, should be prohibited by law. A general law that no com- 

 mon seed should contain more than five per cent of impurity 

 should be established. As the germinative capacity of seeds can- 

 not be determined by mere inspection, dealers should be required 

 to have their seeds tested and should state the percentage which 

 will vegetate, a certain amount being allowed for variation in 

 tests, and should fix their prices accordingly. 



Robert Farquhar wished a lecture like this could be delivered 

 before every farmers' institute in the country. Some farmers, 

 he said, do not appreciate the cost of producing good seed. A 

 very interesting lecture could be given on the methods used by 

 good dealers in testing. The impression may have gone abroad 

 that no seedsman could be sued, but such is not the case. A 

 farmer bought two pounds of Purple-top Flat turnip, and said it 

 produced Ruta-baga turnips. Mr. Faripihar proved that his seed 

 had never been sown, but Ivuta-baga liad. The dut}' of every 



