Seed-Testing Stations Abroad. 



235 



partly from the fees derived from the control work, and most 

 of the stations are supported by State subventions and 

 by grants either from provincial funds or from agricultural 

 societies. 



In Germany, there are thirty-nine establishments for the 

 testing of seeds, many of them being branches of agricul- 

 tural experiment stations, which are supported by general 

 subventions from the State, while some are supported by 

 grants from provincial authorities and agricultural societies. 

 Twenty of these seed-control stations are situated in Prussia, 

 twelve being attached to agricultural experiment stations 

 receiving State subventions for all purposes ranging from 

 £120 for the smaller stations to £850 for the larger estab- 

 lishments, while ten of the twelve also receive grants from 

 provincial funds, and seven of them are assisted by grants 

 from agricultural societies. Four stations are attached to 

 agricultural experiment stations which are not State-aided, 

 but are supported by agricultural societies, three are purely 

 control stations (two are managed and maintained by agri- 

 cultural societies, and one is a private concern), and one, 

 also a control station only, is attached to an agricultural 

 winter school. The twelve stations in receipt of State 

 grants were founded by agricultural societies, and are 

 managed by committees appointed by these bodies. From 

 reports published by eighteen of the Prussian seed-testing 

 stations it appears that in 1897 the number of samples tested 

 at these establishments was 11,543. For three stations 

 details are furnished of the number of samples submitted 

 by farmers and seedsmen, the totals being 296 and 719 

 respectively. The procedure at German seed-testing stations 

 is based on rules drawn up in January, 1898, by the Associa- 

 tion of Agricultural Experiment Stations in order to secure 

 uniformity of methods in seed-testing. 



In Austria-Hungary, there are sixteen seed-testing stations, 

 some of which are private establishments, while six are 

 supported by the State and two by agricultural societies. 

 The most important of the Austrian stations is that at 

 Vienna, which is maintained by the Imperial Agricultural 

 Society, and also receives a State subvention. 



