72 FARM GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES 



tion, but, so far as we have been able to learn, there 

 are no laws requiring English or Continental seedsmen 

 to guarantee their wares. The work of the seed- 

 control stations, however, has created such a public 

 sentiment in favor of pure seed that the best class of 

 dealers submit samples of their seeds to be tested by 

 the stations, which furnish, for a stipulated price, a 

 guarantee of the vitality and purity of the seed from 

 which the samples were taken." 



Several of the State agricultural experiment sta- 

 tions have given more or less attention to seed testing, 

 but in most cases the facilities for doing the work are 

 limited and the total amount done is small. In 1894 

 seed testing was begun by the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, at Washington, D. C, and has 

 been continued by the Seed Laboratory since that 

 time. Samples of seed sent to this laboratory for test 

 w 7 ill be examined for mechanical purity and tested for 

 germination free of charge for purchasers of seed, pro- 

 vided samples are accompanied b}- a statement giving 

 the name and address of the firm from w^hich the seed 

 w r as purchased, and the price paid. While the farmer 

 is able to judge the general quality of a sample of tim- 

 othy by a careful examination, he is not able to detect 

 adulterations of the less common grasses or estimate 

 the per cent, of the seed which will grow. 



. HOME TESTING 



Many of the more common grass-seeds, such as 

 timothy, orchard-grass, and millet, can be tested for 

 germination at home. The simple home- tester shown 

 in Fig. 15 can be made and used by any one. 



