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B-lWV.^ 2.8:l 



RESULTS OP SEED TESTS 

 Made July 1, 1933 to June 30, 1934 



This report contains the results of the inspection for 

 the State Department of Agriculture of four hundred and 

 twelve official samples collected throughout the State dur- 

 ing the period from July 1, 1933 to June 30, 1934. Each 

 of these samples was analyzed and the results mailed to 

 the retail dealers concerned. In addition to these official 

 samples, forty-nine private samples were analyzed, making 

 a total of four hundred and sixty-one 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 the seed inspection work is to determine, with- 

 in 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 mul- 

 tiplied 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 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. 

 Likewise, in the case of a sample of Alsike Clover, guar- 

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

 the actual seeding value of the sample is .9115 x .87, or 79 

 per cent. 



