SEEDS AND SEEDING IO5 



and secure plants so lacking in vigor that satisfiac- 

 tory results are not possible. 



The question of seed laws and seed control is 

 one of vital importance to the farmers and gar- 

 deners of the country. Various laws have been 

 passed from time to time by both state and national 

 governments, but little good has been done, except 

 as public sentiment has demanded higher quality 

 and better service upon the part of the seed trade. 

 Little good can be expected from laws attempting 

 to force people to buy high-grade seed at a cor- 

 respondingly high price when they very much 

 prefer to purchase the lower grades at a correspond- 

 ingly lower price. Some regulations, however, 

 should be in force preventing fraud and deception 

 in connection with this business. It is unbusiness- 

 like and unprofitable for the various state and na- 

 tional governments to spend thousands of dollars 

 annually in creating and stimulating an interest in 

 agricultural and horticultural crops, thus creating 

 a greater demand for seeds of all kinds, if the seeds- 

 men are to be permitted to meet this increased 

 demand with seeds of little intrinsic value, foul with 

 noxious weeds 'and impurities of all kinds. It is 

 to be said to the credit of the seed trade generally 

 that they are meeting the situation splendidly. 

 Better seed is being furnished, on the average, each 

 year, and more care is being taken in its production 

 and handling. 



At the present time in this country few, if any, 

 seedsmen undertake to guarantee their seeds. As 

 a matter of fact, the opposite condition prevails. 

 Practically every package of seed, large or small, 

 carries with it the disclaimer of the seedsman as 

 to any responsibility whatsoever so far as results 



