Members’  Botanical  Privileges. 
The  Council  have  fixed  the  following-  rates  of  charge  for  the  examination  of 
Plants  and  Seeds  by  the  Society’s  Consulting  Botanist. 
The  charge  for  examination  must  be  paid  at  the  time  of  application,  and 
the  carriage  of  all  parcels  must  be  prepaid. 
1- — A report  on  the  purity,  amount,  and  nature  of  foreign  materials, 
the  perfectness  and  germinating  power  of  a sample  of  seed  . . I.?. 
2.  — Determination  of  the  species  of  any  weed  or  other  plant,  or  of  any 
epiphyte  or  vegetable  parasite,  with  a report  on  its  habits,  and 
the  means  for  its  extermination  or  prevention 1.?. 
3. — Eeport  on  any  disease  affecting  farm  crops D. 
-I- — Determination  of  the  species  of  a collection  of  natural  grasses  found 
in  any  district,  with  a report  on  their  habits  and  pasture  value  . Us. 
A.7f. — The  Comvlting  Botanist' s Begwrts  on  Seeds  are  furnished  to  enable 
Mejnbers— purchasers  of  seeds  and  corn  for  agricultural  or  horticultural 
purposes — to  test  the  value  of  what  they  buy,  and  are  not  to  be  used  or  wade 
available  for  adveiiising  or  trade  purposes. 
PURCHASE  OF  SEEDS. 
The  purchaser  should  obtain  from  the  vendor,  by  invoice  or  other  writing, 
the  proper  designation  of  the  seeds  he  buys,  with  a guarantee  of  the  percentage 
of  purity  and  germination,  and  of  its  freedom  from  ergot,  and,  in  the  case  of 
clover,  from  the  seeds  of  dodder  and  broom-rape. 
It  is  strongly  recommended  that  the  purchase  of  prepared  mixtures  of  seeds 
should  be  avoided.  The  different  seeds  should  be  purchased  separately  and 
mixed  by  the  farmer.  Mixtures  cannot  be  tested  for  germination. 
Copies  of  an  “Order  Form  and  Conditions  of  Purchase  and  Sale  of  Seeds” 
may  be  obtained  by  Members  on  application  to  the  Secretary,  at  13  Hanover 
Square,  London,  W. 
THE  SAMPLING  OF  SEEDS. 
The  utmost  care  should  be  taken  to  secure  a fair  and  honest  sample.  This 
should  be  drawn  from  the  bulk  delivered  to  the  purchaser,  and  not  from  the 
sample  sent  by  the  vendor. 
When  legal  evidence  is  required,  the  sample  should  be  taken  from  the  bulk, 
and  placed  in  a sealed  bag  in  the  presence  of  a witness.  Care  should  be  taken 
that  the  sample  and  bulk  be  not  tampered  with  after  delivery,  or  mixed  or 
brought  in  contact  with  any  other  sample  or  bulk. 
At  least  one  ounce  of  grass  and  other  small  seeds  should  be  sent,  and  two 
ounces  of  cereals  and  the  larger  seeds.  When  the  bulk  is  obviously  impure, 
the  sample  should  be  at  least  double  the  amount  specified.  Grass  seeds  should 
be  sent  at  least  four  weeks,  and  seeds  of  clover  and  cereals  two  weeks  before 
they  are  to  be  used. 
The  exact  name  under  which  the  sample  has  been  sold  and  purchased 
should  accompany  it. 
VI 
