66 



Professor Johannsen thanked Mrs. Kolpin Ravn and introduced 

 Mr. Clark. 



Mr. Clark read a paper on: 



"Seed Testing and Seed Control in Canada." 



"Seed Laboratories in Canada follow primarily the methods for seed testing prescribed 

 by the Association of Seed Analysts of North America and in addition, whenever occasion 

 should require, duplicate and triplicate tests are made by following such other methods 

 as experience may have shown to be good. The problems entailed in making dependable 

 germination tests of some kinds of seeds that have matured in our northern climates with 

 occasional slight frost before being fully matured, are not common to most countries. The 

 prescribed method for testing seed oats if applied to oats that have suffered two or three 

 degrees of frost before harvest commonly will give results much below the actual value 

 of the oats for seeding purposes. Six months after ^ harvest the same oats will give a 

 decidedly higher percentage germination and with stronger vital energy. When freshly 

 harvested they may be kiln di-ied at proper temperature, or for laboratory purposes, ex- 

 posed to the sun under glass for a few days and then duplicate tests in good natural 

 soil may give fair results in 6 and 14 days under temperatures ranging from 18° to 

 20° 0. Much depends on the judgement of the analyst, and for germination tests with 

 frosted seeds he ought to have good training in botany and considerable experience in 

 seed testing. With a very few exceptions, however, we do not find it necessary to depart 

 from the prescribed methods of our Association. 



Our seed testing staff consists of a Chief Analyst, one supervising analyst for each control 

 district, a senior analyst for each division of seed testing work, and a larger number of analysts. 



We have three district laboratories and now find it necessary to increase their 

 number. It is our experience that a supervising seed analyst should not be expected to 

 assume responsibility for seed test record certificates in excess of an average of one hundred 

 and fifty per day. In addition to directing the work, his personal attention is needed to 

 a considerable percentage of the samples in the hands of less expert workers. The chief 

 analyst divides his time among all the laboratories under his direction. He has some 

 time, with special assistants, for research work. 



The purpose of our laboratories for seed analyses, is to provide a proper basis on 

 which to establish our system of seed control, which form a separate division of service. 

 The responsibility of the analyst does not extend beyond the issue of seed test records 

 and operating the laboratory on the basis of service at cost. We have never succeeded 

 in making our laboratories pay their operating expenses. It would seem to be the natural 

 inclination of most seed analysts who possess superior technical training, to do very careful 

 work requiring much time to make fine determinations by weight, the utility, value of 

 which unfortunaltely neither the Canadian farmers nor the seedsmen appreciate or are 

 willing to pay for. The aim has been to obtain the easiest and most effective seed control 

 regulations- with the simplest and shortest possible process of analytical work. The nature 

 of the work to be done by the analyst is therefore prescribed in effect by the seed control 

 regulations, which are designed by the staff of s^ed inspectors. 



Our seed control staff of inspectors forms a separate division of the service. They 

 have only a general knowledge of botany but are required to have a special training in 

 the practices of commerce and agriculture. They are organized into six control districts and 

 in addition to seed control have to administer other agricultural laws pertaining to feeding 

 stuffs and fertilizers. 



Seed inspectors also encourage the production of good seed among private growers, assist 

 them to obtain pure stock seed that may have been bred and selected at federal or 

 provincial government experiment stations, inspect their seed crops and certify the registratioa 

 of same and finally inspect and seal the registered seed in the sacks ready for commerce. 



When sold for seeding timothy, alsike, red clover and alfalfa seed must be graded 



