THE SEED 



69 



Rhode Island produces what little Rhode Island 

 bent is harvested in this country. Considerable creep- 

 ing bent is imported, and often substituted for the 

 Rhode Island. 



The seed of the annual sweet vernal is practically 

 indistinguishable from that of the true perennial sweet 

 vernal, and the use of the cheap annual seed as an 

 adulterant is frequent. Redtop sells for about double 

 the price of timotlry, and very often redtop carries from 

 15 to 20 per cent, of timothy as an adulterant. The 

 adulteration is likely to go unnoticed unless the sam- 

 ple is carefully examined. 



GUARANTEED SEEDS 



The selling of guaranteed seeds is practically un- 

 known in this country. Instead, all of the principal 

 seedsmen print on their seed packages and bills the 

 following disclaimer clause, adopted by the American 

 Seed Trade Association: 



" gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to 



description, quality, productiveness, or any other matter of 

 any seeds, bulbs, or plants we send out, and we will not be in 

 any way responsible for the crop. If the purchaser does not 

 accept the goods on these terms, they are at once to be re- 

 turned." 



The use of such a clause is in sharp contrast to the 

 practice adopted by some of the English seed firms. 

 For example, James Hunter, of Chester, England, 

 prints in his price-list for 1904 a table showing the 

 guaranteed percentage of germination, and the mini- 



