732 First Year's Working of the Seeds Act, 1920. [Nov., 



of purity and in 13 cases dodder was found in samples declared 

 • to be dodder free. 



In addition to the above, 76 of the control samples taken were 

 of seeds in connection with which no declaration whatever was 

 being made. In the majority of these cases, however, the check 

 test showed the seed to be of good average quality. 



It is impossible to draw general conclusions from the results 

 of the check tests on control samples as the figures are not strictly 

 comparable with those of the previous season on account of the 

 fresh ground broken by the inspectors. It is satisfactory to note, 

 however, that in spite of the fact that a large number of ' ' new 

 premises were visited, the number of control samples that it 

 was considered desirable to take was considerably fewer than 

 last season, and that the proportion of these control samples 

 which were shown by the check test to be wrongly described by 

 the vendors was only 2 per cent, in excess of last year's figure. 

 Control samples are taken as a rule only in cases where the 

 declaration of the vendor is suspected to be inaccurate. 



In all cases where the check test showed a marked discrepancy 

 from the vendor's particulars, the matter was taken up with the 

 person concerned, and in practically every instance the action 

 of the Ministry resulted either in the seeds being destroyed or 

 returned to the firm from which they were purchased, or in the 

 seller adopting the official test as the basis of his declaration in 

 further sales. 



Packeted Seed. — As already indicated, one of the most help- 

 ful features of the Seeds Act is the effect it is having in regu- 

 lating the sale of seeds in small packets. It is well known that, 

 in the past, large quantities of seeds, the age and germination 

 of which left much to be desired, were sold in this manner. 



Many small shopkeepers purchase a stock of packeted seed 

 which is offered for sale during the sowing season year after 

 year, until the supply is exhausted. As a result, much of this 

 is of very poor germination by the time it comes to be sown by 

 the unfortunate purchaser. 



This practice is now prevented by the Seeds Regulations 

 which require a statement to be delivered to the purchaser of 

 packeted seed showing the percentage of germination and purity, 

 the date of testing, and the season in which the seeds were 

 packeted, etc. It cannot, of course, be claimed that the sale of 

 poor quality seeds in packets has been stopped during the short 

 period that these regulations have been in force, but there is 

 evidence to show that an improvement has been effected, and 



