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to conform to the seed control regulations. Seed merchants or farmers draw and send 

 to the district seed control station a sample of the seed held for sale. This sample is 

 known as the control sample and is kept for one year. After the sample is analyzed in 

 the seed laboratory, to determine the number of noxious weed seeds and the number of 

 other weed seeds per ounce of the control sample, the seed inspector who is expert in the 

 judging of general quality as to vitality, colour, cleanliness and other factors, determines 

 the grade of the seed, and a certificate of grade is issued accordingly; when shipping the 

 seed in commerce the number of the certificate is quoted on the invoice or elsewhere, as 

 a reference to the authority for the grade. It is the privilege of any purchaser to send 

 a sample of the seed so obtained, together with the certificate number for comparison 

 with the control sample on which the certificate was issued. Severe punishment is ad- 

 ministered to any who attempt fraudulent practices under this system. 



In addition to the principal grass and clover seeds used in Canada, this system of 

 grading based on control samples is extended to most kinds of field seeds when requested 

 by the seedsmen or farmers. This system is rapidly increasing in general practice because 

 most farmers who buy prefer to pay a higher price and obtain seeds that are gi-aded 

 under the seed control system. 



Because of the requirements of commerce the certificates of grade are issued on the 

 day the sample is received and without waiting for the results of germination test for 

 those kinds of seed as timothy, red clover, alsike, alfalfa, and cereal grains that may be 

 judged as to vitality from careful examination to be not less than 90 % and probably 

 95 % germinable seeds. With all of the finer grass seeds and when any seeds appear to 

 be of doubtful vitality the certificate is not issued until ^germination test is made. 



In addition to control sample certificates, moi-e important certificates are issued for 

 wholesale quantities when official samples are drawn by control seed inspectors. When 

 these certificates are issued at the request of seedsmen or producers, it is the common 

 practice to seal the seeds in the sack and stencil the sacks with the origin of the seed, 

 the special variety if any, the kind of seed, the grade and the. number of the certificate. 



It is understood that when the seal is broken the assurance of the quality of the 

 seed contained in the sack may not be continued. 



The following are the provisional definitions of grades that may be applied to Canadian 

 Alsike seed for export to Europe. The percentages of weed seed content may have to be changed 

 to apply to Europe in general if and when this seed control conference of Europe prescribe 

 what may be included as "noxious weeds" and also what may be included as "other weeds" 



Tentative Draft of Standard Grades Alsike Seed-Canadian. 

 (Prepared to confirm to the British seed control regulations. Statements of percentages 



are only suggestive.) 



Extra No. | Export Alsike Seed shall be mature, sound, plump, of goo'd colour, dry 

 and sweet, well cleaned and graded, free from the noxious weed seeds prescribed by British 

 Ministry of Agriculture, and contain not less than 99% pure and 95% germinable seeds. 



No. 1 Export Alsike Seed shall be mature, s6und, plump, of good colour, dry and 

 sweet, well cleaned and graded, free from dodder, contain not less than 98 % pure alsike 

 seed, not more than one tenth of one per cent by number of the other noxious weed seeds 

 prescribed by British Ministry of Agriculture, and not less than 93 "/o germinable seeds. 



No. 2 Export Alsike Seed shall be reasonably mature, sound, of medium colour, dry 

 and sweet, well cleaned,^ free from dodder, contain not less than 92 % pure alsike and 

 97 % -pure alsike, white clover, timothy, and other useful seeds, not more than one-fifth 

 of one per cent 'by number of the other noxious weed seeds prescribed by the British 

 Ministry of Agriculture and not less than 90% germinable seeds. 



No. 3 Export Alsike Seed shall be reasonably mature, sound, cleaned, dry and sweet, 

 free from dodder, contain not less than 87 % pure alsike and 95 % pure alsike, white 

 clover, timothy, and other useful seeds, not more than one half of one per cent by number 



