Read at Cambridge. 197 



stored in the vegetable matter, while it grants compensation for the 

 unexhausted residues of artificial manures and cake fed on the land. 



It may be pointed out, lastly, that besides the required seed-testing 

 station, and an Act to compel seedsmen to guarantee the seeds they 

 sell, an Act is urgently required in order to keep spurious, diseased, 

 and adulterated seeds out of the country. In America the Custom 

 House officers take samples of all lots of seeds at the ports of arrival, 

 and forward them to Washington for examination, and the seeds are 

 at once allowed to pass on to their destination ; but if the seeds are 

 bad, or do not come up to a certain standard of quality, the names 

 of buyer and seller are published, and thus public warning is given 

 as to the holders of bad seeds. As farmers here are quite unprotected 

 in this matter it is hardly necessary to say that spurious seeds, 

 diseased seeds, and seeds mingled with weed seeds are imported 

 without any restriction. It is hardly necessary to add that, unless 

 farmers are aided in their work as the farmers in other civilised 

 countries are, it will be hopeless to expect any rapid progress towards 

 amending the present depressed agricultural situation. 



