SEED INSPECTION. 

 Chas. D. Woods, Director. 

 Bessie G. Tower, Analyst. 



In order that the farmer might be able to find out, if he so 

 desired, what quality of seed he was buying, a law was passed 

 in Maine in the winter of 1897, regulating the sale of agricul- 

 tural seeds, and providing for the testing of samples of seeds, 

 either by the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station, or in 

 accordance with directions prescribed by the Director of the 

 Station. 



This law was satisfactory as far as it went, and resulted in 

 an improvement in the character of the seed sold in the State. 

 It did not provide for an inspection and as time has passed the 

 moral effect of the law has to some extent and with some 

 dealers grown less. To remedy this, the Legislature of 1905 

 passed an additional section to the law, calling for an inspection 

 somewhat similar in requirements to that of the laws regulating 

 the sale of commercial fertilizers, foods and feeding stufifs. 

 The chief requirements of the law and the full text of the law 

 follow : 



CHIEF REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW. 



Kind of Seeds Coming Under the Law. The law applies to 

 every lot of seeds, containing one pound or more, of cereals, 

 grasses, forage plants, vegetable and garden plants, but does 

 not apply to sweet corn, trees, shrubs and ornamental plants. 



The Guarantee. Every lot sold, offered or exposed for sale 

 must be accompanied by a written or printed guarantee of the 

 percentage of purity. 



text of the laws. 



Chapter 39, Revised Statutes. 



Regulation of Sale of Agricultural Seeds. 



Sec. 27. Every lot of seeds of agricultural plants, whether 



in bulk or in package, containing one pound or more, and 



