14 



Official Stations of Great Britain and Ireland, but also those in charge of 

 licensed stations throughout the country. The first of such conferences 

 was held last year with satisfactory results. The holding of such an 

 annual conference is in our opinion very desirable as it brings the analysts 

 together for the discussion of common problems. At the same time the 

 analysts become acquainted with each other and famiUarise themselves 

 with the work of the Official Station. The development of imiformity 

 is very much in the interests both of the trade and of the official stations, 

 and it is the intention of the Official Station to develop it in every possible 

 way. It is hoped to bring the Official Station and the licensed stations 

 still closer together by the means of a news-letter which will be issued at 

 regular intervals to such stations. This will make known the results of 

 investigations conducted at the Official Station and will also supply such 

 other information as may be of interest to the trade analysts. 



Testing of Control samples taken by Inspectors in accordance with the 

 Regulations issued under the Seeds Act, 1920. 

 These are samples which are taken by Inspectors in the manner 

 prescribed under the Seeds Act. Such samples are forwarded to the 

 Official Station by the Inspectors. Upon the completion of the tests 

 the results are reported to the Ministry of Agriculture, by whom the 

 results are then communicated to the person or firm concerned. In this 

 w^ay a check is kept upon the sale of seed throughout the country, and 

 infringement of the provisions of the Seeds Act detected. The sole function 

 of the Official Station in connection with Control samples is the furnishing 

 of an official report as to the purity and germination of such samples for 

 the information of the officials charged with the administration of the Seeds 

 Act. In the case of legal action being taken, the necessary proceedings 

 are undertaken by the Ministry. Such proceedings, of course, are in 

 most cases based upon the report issued by the Official Station. 



Investigational Work. 



Since its establishment a considerable amount of investigational work 

 has been carried out by the Official Station, and it is hoped to extend such 

 work in the future. 



Amongst the more important problems which are under investigation 

 at the present time may be mentioned the following : — 



Very extensive experiments in respect to loss of vitality in seeds stored 

 under varying conditions. 



Study of delayed germination with special reference to cereals. 



Hard seeds and the determination of their real value when present in 

 leguminoias seeds. 



The relation between the germination of peas in the laboratory and 

 the germination in the field. 



The germination of Sainfoin with special reference to Broken Growths. 



A study of the plumular growths in grasses. 



The delegates then visited the laboratories and other parts 

 of the Official Seed Testing Station, and were subsequently 

 entertained at lunch by the Council of the Institute. 



Afternoon Session. 



The Congress resumed at 3 p.m. 



Mr. Dorph-Petersen referred with emotion to the regretted 

 death of their admirable and revered colleague Mr. Bruijning, 

 and the delegates stood in silence as a tribute to his memory. 



Mr. Dorph-Petersen then read his report on the activities Of 

 the European Seed Testing Association which was inaugurated 

 at the Copenhagen Congress 



