90 Maine Agricultural Experiment Station. 1920. 



COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURAL SEEDS, 1920 



The Law Regulating The Sale of Agricultural Seeds 



The first law regulating the sale of agricultural seeds was 

 enacted by the Legislature of 1897. This has been revised by 

 the Legislature of 1905, 191 1 and 1919. The following are the 

 sections of the greatest importance to the dealer and the user 

 of seeds. The most important changes made by the Legisla- 

 ture of 1919 is the declaration of noxious seeds and the vitali- 

 ty or germination guaranty required under section 3. As pro- 

 vided for under the inspection law, the Commissioner of Agri- 

 culture has proclaimed a list of seeds that will for the present 

 he considered as noxious. This list is given on pages 93 and 94 



Section 2. The term "agricultural seed" as used in this chapter 

 shall be held to include the seeds of alfalfa, barley, Canadian blue grass, 

 Kentucky blue grass, brome grass, buckwheat, alsike clover, crimson 

 clover, red clover, medium clover, white clover, field corn, Kaffir corn, 

 meadow fescue flax, Hungarian, millet, oats, orchard grass, rape, redtop, 

 rye, sorghum, timothy and wheat. 



Section 3. Every lot or package of agricultural seed which is sold, 

 distributed, transported, offered or exposed for sale, distribution or trans- 

 portation for seed, in the state by any dealer in seed shall have affixed 

 in a conspicuous place on the outside thereof, a plainly written or printed 

 statement clearly and truly giving the name thereof and its minimum per- 

 centage of purity and freedom from foreign matter, together with the 

 name and approximate amount of each kind of noxious weed seed con- 

 •tained therein, and also a guarantee of the germinating power of the 

 seed and the date of the test for germination. 



Section 12. For the purpose of this chapter an article shall be deemed 

 to be adulterated : 



In case of agricultural seed : 



First. If its purity falls below its accompanying guaranty. 



Second. If it contains the seed of any poisonous plant, or any kind 

 or amount of weed seed other than the kinds or amounts represented in 

 the statement required by section three of this chapter. 



Third. If it, upon test of germination made within six months of 

 the date of test in statement under the provisions of section three herein 

 above, does not show the same germinating power given in said state- 

 ment prescribed by the provisions of said section three.' Provided said seed 

 has been constantly kept under conditions not injurious to its germina- 

 ting qualities, and that a margin of tolerance of five per cent shall be 

 allowed. 



