13] 



2. Testing of samples taken from Licensed Private Stations, 



3. Testing of Control samples taken by Inspectors in accordance 

 with the regulations issued under the Seeds Act, 1920. 



4. Investigational work. 



Testing for Trade Purposes. 



Under this heading may be included all tests made on samples from 

 merchants, farmers or other interested parties, either for theit own 

 information or for the purposes of declarations under the provisions of the 

 Seeds Act. Such samples are classified into four main groups or sections, 

 namely, Clovers, Grasses, Cereals and Pulses, Roots and Vegetables, each 

 group being handled separately in the laboratories set aside for that 

 purpose. Furthermore, the whole of the record system of the Official 

 Station is based upon this grouping, which will be explained in detail 

 ^during the inspection of the Station. 



Although the staff of the Station is divided into sections, each dealing 

 with one of the four groups mentioned, yet each individual analyst is 

 trained in the work of all sections, so that analysts can be transferred 

 from one section to another as occasion demands. In addition to being 

 so trained, each analyst, before having her permanent appointment 

 confirmed, is required to qualify in all branches of seed testing at one of 

 the examinations annually held by the Station. 



The methods employed at Cambridge follow very closely those in use 

 at the Continental stations, with some rninor , exceptions. Statements 

 as to the methods employed for each kind of seed have been prepared 

 and placed in each laboratory for the information of the delegates. Some 

 idea of the number of trade samples dealt with may be gathered from the 

 following figures for the years 1921-23. The figures for the past season 

 are not yet available, but in all probabihty will be somewhat less than those 

 quoted below for the two previous seasons. 



1922-23. 1921-22. 



19,829 » 23,865 



Testing of Samples taken from Licensed Private Stations. 



As, no doubt, most of you are aware, many of the seed firms in this 

 coim.try are licensed to test seeds in their own private stations. Such 

 Hcenses are granted by the Ministry of Agriculture and may be granted 

 for one or more classes of seeds. Licenses are granted only to such firms 

 as the Ministry are satisfied will carry out tests in a satisfactory manner 

 and provided that an analyst approved by the Ministry is placed in charge. 

 Furthermore, suitable apparatus is required to be installed and the methods 

 of testing prescribed by the Ministry must be followed. Each licensed 

 station is required to keep a complete record of all tests made, and the 

 samples tested must be preserved for at least three months. Periodically, 

 inspectors visit such stations and take samples of the seeds that have been 

 tested. These samples, or " licensed station reserve portions " as they 

 are called, are then forwarded to the Official Station where tests are made 

 and the results obtained by the licensed stations checked. Just as it is 

 the aim of the Official Analysts' Associations to promote greater uniformity 

 of methods and results amongst official stations, so it is the endeavour 

 of the Official Station to develop greater uniformity between the Official 

 Station and the licensed stations of England and Wales. With a view 

 to increasing such tiniformity, a series of " referee samples " has been 

 sent to the various licensed stations during the past season, the results of 

 which are proving of much interest. Each year also the Official Station 

 conducts a seed -testing course of about one month's duration for the train- 

 ing of commercial analysts. In this way they become familiar with the 

 methods employed at the Official Station. At the end of this course 

 examinations are held and certificates in seed testing issued to the success- 

 ful candidates. Each year also it is proposed to hold, at the close of the 

 cotirse, a conference to which will be invited, not only analysts from the 



