OFFICIAL INSPECTIONS 28. I29 



Sending Samples. Every sample of seeds sent to the Station 

 for free analyses should be in a securely fastened package and 

 must be accompanied by a statement certifying to the fairness 

 of the sample, the name and address of the dealer, the name 

 under which the seed is sold or offered for sale, the lot number 

 and exact copy of any other marks on the package and the 

 guaranteed percentage of purity. Blanks for the purpose of 

 forwarding samples of seeds will be furnished on application 

 to the Station. 



The Written Guaranty the Retailer's Safeguard. 



Although the written guaranty clause of the Maine food and 

 drug law applies only to the sale of food and drugs, discretion 

 is given to the Director regarding prosecutions under other 

 laws. No prosecutions will be made against any handler of 

 agricultural seeds within the State provided he obtain at the 

 time of purchase, a guaranty personally signed in ink that the 

 goods are in conformity with the Maine law regulating the sale 

 cf agricultural seeds. The guaranty to be of value should 

 identify and may be attached to the bill of sale, invoice, bill of 

 lading, or other schedule, giving the names, marks upon the 

 packages and quantities of the seeds sold. 



Testing Seeds at Home. 

 It is important to the user of seeds not only to know their 

 percentage of purity and what kind of weeds they carry, but to 

 also know something of their vitality. In the case of seeds there 

 are at least three ways whereby the user may be injured. A 

 seed which carries foreign matter of any kind, in any consider- 

 able amount, is correspondingly lowered in value. But there is 

 another reason which is more important than the money consid- 

 eration, and that is that the weed seeds which the seeds contain 

 may be pernicious. For example, — clover seed frequently 

 carries plaintain seed. If this plaintain seed is the door-yard 

 variety which is present practically all over Maine, there would 

 be comparatively little harm from using clover seed which con- 

 tained it. On the other hand — lance leaved plaintain or rib 

 grass is not abundant in Maine. It is an undesirable plant and 

 using seed carrying it might introduce a weed into land which is 

 at present free from it. It is important that the farmer should 

 know the vitality as well as the purity of the seed that he is to 



