t 
MEMBERS’ BOTANICAL PRIVILEGES ( continued ). 
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 1 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 analysed 
should accompany it. 
REPORTING THE RESULTS. 
The Report will be made on a schedule in which the nature and amount of 
impurities will be stated, and the number of days each sample has been under 
test, with the percentage of the seeds which have germinated. 
“ Hard ” clover seeds, thoug’h not germinating- within the time stated, will 
be considered geod seeds, and their percentage separately stated. 
The impurities in the sample, including- the chaff of the species tested, will 
be specified in the schedule, and only the percentage of the pure seed of that 
species will be reported upon ; but the real value of the sample will be 
stated. The Real Value is the combined percentages of purity and germina- 
tion, and is obtained by multiplying- these percentages and dividing by 100 ; 
thus in a sample of Meadow Fescue having 88 per cent, purity and 95 per cent, 
germination, 88 multiplied by 95 gives 8,860, and this divided by 100 gives 83*6, 
the Real Value. 
SELECTING SPECIMENS OF PLANTS. 
When a specimen is sent for determination, the whole plant should be 
taken up and the earth shaken from the roots. If possible, the plants must be 
in flower or fruit. They should be packed in a light box, or in a firm 
paper parcel. 
Specimens of diseased plants or of parasites should be forwarded as fresh as 
possible. They should be placed in a bottle, or packed in tinfoil or oil-silk. 
Al l specimens should be accompanied with a letter specifying the nature of 
the information required, and stating any local circumstances (soil, situation, 
&c.) which, in the opinion of the sender, would be likely to throw light on the 
inquiry. 
PARCELS OR LETTERS CONTAINING SEEDS OR PLANTS FOR 
EXAMINATION MUST BE ADDRESSED (CARRIAGE OR POSTAGE 
PREPAID) TO— 
PROFESSOR R. H. BIFFEN, M.A., 
School of Agriculture, Cambridge. 
VIII 
