2 N. H. EXPERIMENT STATION [Bulletin 211 



fifty years, but it is much more recently that a large 

 proportion of the states have established seed testing 

 laboratories. Connecticut did some of this work as 

 early as 1877. A laboratory was started in Washington, 

 D. C, by the Federal Government in 1894. Since that 

 time the work has spread rapidly among the states, 

 while investigation and research have developed many 

 improvements in methods of testing. In 1908 the 

 American Association of Official Seed Analysts was 

 formed for the purpose of standardizing methods and 

 stimulating investigation which would lead to more 

 uniform results. This association is a very active 

 organization and is doing much to improve the technique 

 of its members. The New Hampshire seed testing work 

 was started in 1909. 



Probably few people realize today some of the 

 wilful practices which were resorted to in the days 

 previous to the inauguration of any seed control work 

 for the purpose of defrauding the public along this line. 

 Old seed was sold for new, perhaps after coloring or 

 polishing to make it look superior. Kale was sold for 

 cabbage, trefoil for alfalfa and so on to some length. 

 The farmer had no recourse to secure justice even if he 

 had reason to suspect or could prove that he had been 

 defrauded. Many times he, himself, could not recognize 

 the deception and attributed his failures to other causes. 

 All this was discouraging and led to no possible hope 

 of improvement. At one time in England the collecting 

 and killing of weed seeds to serve as adulterants was a 

 regular commercial business. Particles of quartz were 

 graded and colored in Europe to adulterate clover seed. 



The seed testing work done by the Federal Govern- 

 ment and by the many state laboratories backed up by 

 suitable and continually improved legislation has done 

 much to discourage the use of crude adulterants or the 

 misbranding of commercial seed. There are some ille- 

 gitimate practices still too prevalent, like selling the less 



