Annual Report -4- 



protecting the public from these questionable germinating seeds. 



In all, about 1,000 san^les were collected and submitted to 

 the Massachusetts Seed Laboratory for official testing. 



We have been notified as of June 10, :}.963 that Seaboard Seed 

 CoB^any of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was fined $1,500,00 plus $23.72 

 costs in settlement of Federal complaint which included one shipment 

 of Incorrectly labeled seed into Massachusetts and additional ship- 

 ments into other states. Our inspection service turned over this 

 violation and furnished all shipping information required by the 

 U.S.D.A, for this prosecution. This cooperation with the U.S.D.A, 

 in enforcing the Federal Seed Act proves an excellent deterrent to 

 the shipping of falsely labeled seed into Massachusetts, 



Lacking any flower seed Irbeling requirements in the Federal 

 Seed Act, much consultation and correspondence with wholesalers 

 shipping flower seed direct to florists and market gardeners has 

 occurred. We now feel that wholesalers know what labeling is re- 

 quired and are hoping this educational work will bear dividends on 

 the 1964 shipments. 



Regarding our price reporting services, the Boston wholesale 

 produce market is our largest and most in^jortant. Here we have a 

 reporter who is in the Faneuil Hall Market very early in the morning 

 during the peak of wholesale market transactions collecting the day's 

 receipts, prices, and market trends from nearby suppliers and com- 

 mission houses, makes direct report from market by tape over telephone 

 for radio and television transmission at 6:00 A.M,, as well as calls 

 to other radio stations in other Mew England states for quick dis- 

 semination. Back at the office about 8:00 A.M, this reporter completes 

 his resume of the market by calling chain store headquarters to 



