5.28 PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS. 

Mek. Stratton, Mr. Lo] Sutton? Mie 7 Watt, and Mr. D. 
Wilson. In their Report they observe that in their opinion 
no widespread complaint of the quality of seeds sold 
throughout the country has been brought under their notice ;. 
on the contrary, it was universally admitted that a marked 
and continuous improvement in the trade as carried on by 
the larger merchants has been witnessed in the last twenty 
years. 
They think that every encouragement should be given to- 
seed merchants to give a guarantee with the seeds they sell,. 
and that farmers should be advised to buy only subject to- 
such guarantee, and to test the seeds they have purchased. 
In order to reduce to a minimum ali difficulties in the way 
of such practice, they recommend the establishment of one- 
central seed-testing station, under Government auspices, 
whose practice and procedure should be laid down and from 
time to time revised by a small committee of experts. The 
charges at this station should be moderate and so fixed that. 
seed merchants should be encouraged to sell subject to free 
re-testing of their seeds by the purchaser, should he desire it. 
Sir W. Thiselton Dyer and Mr. L. J. Sutton sign the- 
Report subject to certain reservations. 

Agricultural Statistics, Ireland.—Extent in Statute Acres 
and Produce of the Cropsimigoo. [Cd. 340.| Prece 54d. 
The returns of the produce of the cereal crops in Ireland in 
igoo all show a decrease as compared with the previous year, 
the greatest relative decline being shown by barley, to the- 
amount of four and a half bushels per acre. The potato 
harvest was very poor, the production (both total and per 
acre) being just two-thirds of that of the preceding year, 
while a lower average yield per acre has only been recorded 
four times in the 20 years 1881-1900. Roots and flax were bet-- 
ter thanin 1899, while grass yielded about the same as in the- 
previous year. 
As compared with the average of the preceding ten years,. 
however, most crops were better, only barley and potatoes. 
