« 'i ■ IiWiip 1 — Experiment Station Library. Class ..."WV&..:yb.: Number W^jI U^O-- Volume ■>SlV'\Vr'.V»vur>...,\^.^n\lt;^ Source Eeceived. . ..S^.vwwyv.\5A^. \^Y\4WsA;\ Cost Accession No. 1>A \ ~\. Mb*. Vv * ai^** Bulletin 156 February, 1912 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY Results of Seed Tests for 1911 MADE FOR THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE <$ SEEDS OF CLOVER DIIIIIIKK % ® a » SEEDS OF SORREL i W W ^ SEEDS OF WITCH-GRASS SEEDS OF GREEN FOXTAIL BY F. W. TAYLOR NEW HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND THE MECHANIC ARTS DURHAM, N. II. NEW HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND THE MECHANIC ARTS NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION DURHAM, N. H. Board of Control HON. JOHN G. TALLANT, Chairman, West Concord HON. WARREN BROWN, Hampton Falls HON. N. J. BACHELDER, A. M. M. S., East Andover HON. E. H. WASON, B. S, Nashua PRES. WILLIAM D. GIBBS, D. Sc, ex-officio, Durham The Station Staff JOHN C. KENDALL, B. S., Director. FREDERICK W. TAYLOR, B. Sc. (Agr.), Agronomist. CHARLES BROOKS, Ph. D., Botanist. FRED RASMUSSEN, B. S. A., Dairyman. B. S. PICKETT, M. S., Horticulturist. B. E. CURRY, A. B., Chemist. T. R. ARKELL, B. S. A., Animal Husbandman. W. C. O'KANE, M. S, Entomologist. CHARLES W. STONE, A. M., Farmer, and Vice-Director. W. H. WOLFF, M. S., Assistant Horticulturist. DAVID LUMSDEN, Assistant in Floriculture. T. O. SMITH, A. B., Assistant Chemist. J. J. GARDNER, B. S., Assistant in Olericulture. O. L. ECKMAN, B. S., Assistant Animal Husbandman. CAROLINE A. BLACK, A. M., Assistant Botanist. FRANK APP, B. S., Assistant in Agronomy. CORNELIA F. KEPHART, B. S. A., Assistant Entomologist. MIRIAM L. HOBBS, Purchasing Agent. LAURA B. BICKFORD, Stenographer. M. GENEVIEVE BURT, Bookkeeper. S. EDNA DAVIS, Stenographer. ELIZABETH E. MEHAFFEY, Librarian. The bulletin of the Experiment Station are published at irregular in- tervals and are sent free to all residents of New Hampshire requesting SEED TESTS. Made July 1, 1910, to July 1, 1911. The provisions of the Pure Seed Law enacted by the General Court in 1909 require the publication annually of a bulletin by the New Hampshire Experiment Station of the results of all seed tests made officially during the previous year. The administration of said law is in the hands of the secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, who has appointed the writer, agronomist of the ex- periment station, as his regular agent for making all tests and analyses in this state. During the year only seventy-two samples of seed were examined as against two hundred and thirty-eight samples for the year pre- ceding. This very small number of tests for as much seed as is sold in the state indicates one of three conditions: (1) that the seedsmen and seed dealers are buying their seeds from outside parties upon a purity and germination test guarantee; (2) that the seedsmen and dealers are making their own tests and basing their guarantees upon them; or (3) that the farmers are buying seeds without any guarantee of their purity and vitality. Of the few samples tested the analytic agent has no knowledge that seeds which these samples represented were offered for sale in the state. Quite frequently samples are sent in for inspection by dealers before purchase in lot or bulk is made, and if the test shows the seeds to be of inferior quality it is presumed the seeds are not purchased. Individuals sometimes ask for a report upon the quality of a given sample and make the purchase of seed for their own use upon the basis of said report. It should not, there- fore, be understood that all of the seeds represented by the samples inspected were offered for sale by the parties for whom the in- spection was made. The writer acknowledges his appreciation of the work of Pro- fessor W. L. Slate, Jr., who made the tests and examinations of the samples herewith reported. Feb., 1912] results of seed tests, 1911 SEED EXAMINATION, 1911. Kind of Seed, Sender, Date of Report, and Kind and Number of Foreign Seeds found in One Pound Nov. Nov. QhPh 95.8 3.4 97.1 99.1 99.7 99.6 239 Alfalfa (P. A.) Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co., Buffalo, N. Y. 1, 1910. Dodder and Trefoil found. 240 Alfalfa, ("Bart") Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co., Buffalo, N. Y. 18, 1910. Pig-weed, 90. 241 Alfalfa, ("5") Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Nov. 19, 1910. Sorrel, 90; trace of Alfalfa dodder. 242 Alfalfa, (Ipas) Whitney-Eckstein seed Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Nov. 21, 1910. Red Clover, 180; Green foxtail, 1,530; Rib-grass, 180; Wild carrot, 90. 248 Timothy, (Choice) Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co. Buffalo, N. Y. Jan. 23. Alsike clover, 1,135 ; Red clover, 227. Timothy, (Pan-American) Whitney Eckstein Seed Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Jan. 23. Alsike clover, 6«1 ; Sorrel, 227. Timothy, (Gold Medal) Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Jan. 28. Alsike clover, 1,135. 251 Redtop, ( Fa ney) Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Feb. 11. 252 Redtop, (Choice) Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Feb. 11. Alsike clover, (Pan- America n) Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Jan. 28. « anada thistle, 227; Red clover, 908; Sor- rel, 908; Timothy 17,706; unknown, 227. 254 Red clover, ( Pan- American) Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co., Buffalo N, Y. Jan. 28. Alsike clover, 273 ; Green foxtail, 91 ; Rib- grass, 91; Timothy, 273; Miscellaneous, 1,500. 255 Hungarian millet Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co , Buffalo, N. Y. Jan. 23. Lamb's-quarters, 182; Old Witch-grass, 273; Yellow foxtail, 91. 256 Red clover, (Eureka) Whitney-Kckstein Seed Co., Buffalo. N. Y. Jan. 28. Alsike clover, 182; Timothy, 91. 257 Alfalfa, (Fancy) Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co., Buffalo, N. V. Jan. 28. 258 Alsike clover, (Export Fane:;) Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Jan. 28. Chick weed, 454; Shepherd's Purse, 454. 259 Japanese millet Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Jan. 28. Crab-grass, 454 ; Peppergrass, 91 ; Red clo- ver, 91; Smartweeds, 910; Yellow fox-tail, 91; Sunflower, 182. 260 Red clover Maxfleld & Sanborn, Pittsfleld, N. H. Jan. 24. Green fox-tail, 364; Rib-grass, 364; Timothy, 91 ; Miscellaneous, 364. 261 Red clover, ( Mo. 44) Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Jan. 28. Chick weed, 182; Greed fox-tail 2,275; Rib- grass, 546; Sorrel, 182; Timothy, 454; Yellow fox-tail, 91 ; Mallow, 91. 262 Timothy. {No. 384) 99.5 Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Jan. 28. Alsike clover, 454. 263 Timothy, UVo 385) 09.5 Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Jan. 28, Alsike clover, 1,135; Kentucky bluegrass, 227. S £ Oh (S trace trace trace 96.2 96.1 98.8 98.6 99.1 99.5 97. 98.5 97.4 trace trace trace 1.5 4.1 1.5 2.2 .4 .1 .2 3.2 1.1 1.4 .9 .4 1.3 1.6 23 77.5 61.0 91.0 51.0 57.0 75.5 91.0 91.0 88.0 82.0 83.0 32.5 76.0 79.5 90.0 92.5 n. h. experiment station [Bulletin 156 SEED EXAMINATION, 1911.— Continued. a a 265 268 269 •J 71 ) •-'71 272 273 •274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 Kind of Seed. Sender, Date of Keport, ami Kind and Number of Foreign Seeds found in One Pound Red clover, (An. 1,430) Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co., Buffalo, N- Y. Jan. 28. Alsike clover, 3.276; Chickweed, 91; Green fox-tail, 3,276; Lamb's quarters, 91 ; Old Witch- grass, 91; Rib-grass, 1,365; Timothy, 1,274 ; Mis- cellaneous, 637. Ke J. B. Varick Co., Manchester, N. H. March l. Beans, (Blk. Wax Poll i J. B. Varick Co., Manchester, N. H. March 1. Peas, (Alaska > J. B. Varick Co., Manchester, N. H. March 1. Peas, ( Torksh ire Hero) J. B. Varick Co., Manchester, N. H. March 1. Peas. (Sutton's I' ccelsior) J. B. Varick Co.. Manchester, N. H. March l. Peas, ( Aim r. Wonder) J. B. Varick Co., Manchester, N. H. March l. Peas, (Imp. Stratagem) J. B. Varick Co., Manchester, N. H. March 1. Peas, (Advancer) J. B. Varick Co., Manchester, N. H. March 1. Bed clover, (Max) Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Mar. 17. Bib-grass, 180 ; Hungarian millet, 273 ; Mis- cellaneous, 819. Oats, (Peoria No. 2) Stratton & Co., Concord, N. H. March 2. Canada Blue Grass, (B. J- B. 3453) Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co., Buffalo, N. V. Mar. 17. Alsike clover, 5,448; Canada Thistle, 908; Green fox-tail, 908 ; Ox-eye daisy, 5,448 ; Shep- herd's purse, 3,632 ; Timothy, 79,900. Timothy Maxfleld & Sanborn, Pittsfield, N. H. March 27. Alsike clover, 454; Poverty weed, 454. Timothv, (-Wo. 392) Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Mar. 29. Alsike clover, 1,135: Redtop, 1,135; Self- heal. 1,589. Timothv, (Xo. 540) Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Mar. 29. Alsike clover, 454 Timothy, (Sec.) Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Mar. 29. Alsike clover, 454; Red clover, 680; Self- heal, 454. Oats, (Elwood's) , E. C. & W. L. Hopkins, Greenfield, N. H. March 30. Lamb's quarters, 15; Wheat, 30. Oat! Norris E. Henderson, Merrimack, N. H. April 5. Alfalfa, (A.B.3) Whitney-Eckstein Seed Co., Buffalo, N. Y. April 10. Chickweed, 637; Green fox-tail, 91; Pig- weed, 91; Rib-grass, 454; Bull Thistle, 91; Mis- cellaneous, 91. Oats Nashua Grain Elevator, Nashua, N. H. April 10. Sorrel, 9; Wild mustard, 90: Sunflowei,9; Wheat, 45. Oat! Maxfleld & Sanborn, Pittsfield. N. H. April 10. Oats, (Xnti ii grown) Holbrook Grocery Co., Keene, N H. April 26. Corn, (Flint) H. F. Schroeder, S. Barnstead, N. H. May 8, 1911 Alfalfa C. D. Hening, Philadelphia, Pa. June 21. Can- ada Thistle, 90; Hungarian millet, 270: Pig- weed, 90. 86.0 99.7 99.5 99.5 99.4 99.0 95.7 98.6 !>!).3 43 it- 7^> - O jg trace .1 trace trace 5.0 trace .2 trace .1 .7 1.2 8.2 SI 90.5 97.0 70.0 99.0 62.5 95.0 63.5 86.0 87.0 72.5 76.0 73.0 94.5 87.0 81.5 93.0 72.5 97.0 84.0 91.5 91.5 85.0 69.0 91.0 8 N. H. experiment station [Bulletin 156 In general the results of the inspection show a higher average percent of purity for the grass seeds, such as timothy, redtop, millet, alfalfa, and the clovers, than was indicated for the year pre- ceding. The average germinating quality of these seeds, however, was not as high as in 1910, the reason for which was probably due to the fact that the conditions for seed production were less fav- orable that year, resulting in a scarcity and high price of seed. No samples of very dirty or foul seed were inspected and a con- siderable less variety of weed seeds were found than last year. The conclusion is, therefore, that dealers are aiming to secure and sell seeds of a high grade of purity. The table below and on the following page gives a condensed summary of the results. SUMMARY TABLE, SHOWING THE KINDS OF FOREIGN SEEDS FOUND IX SAMPLES EXAMINED IN 1911 AND THE NUMBER OF SAMPLES IN WHICH THEY WERE FOUND. Names of Foreign Seeds. Number of Samples Examined. Alsike clover Bull Thistle Canada Thistle Chickweed Crab-grass Docks Dodder Green fox-tail Kentucky bluegrass Lamb's-quarters Mallow Millet Miscellaneous or unknown Peppergrass Pigweed Poverty weed Rag-weed Red clover Redtop Rib-grass Self heal Smartweed Sorrel Shepherd's Purse Timothy Wheat Whitetop White clover Wild carrot Wild mustard Wild sunflower Witch grass Yellow fox-tail Names of Samples Examined. Feb., 1912] results of seed tests, 1911 -3 & ""3 & o M fc Q !> i— i H O H CO Q H H CO fa O CO m PM o j. Is g 2 «i w a <: co H CO E- JU80J3CI p.IBpiTBlg 1U80J8(J lU80.I9d IsaqSiH juao.iad 8SB.I9AV cooocooococooocoit-oocooo oot-o«J'a>cococ.c3cot-oo 10>0"* ■ OOIQCO ©COCO CO ffiOOD 'OOOOOO-WN Of. CO CO .CO0C5DO300001O00 O ITS o ■ © o *c o w o o o m id «i • ai © (M ■* eo co — < — « oot-m • o oo co oo co t- >n «o ooo -oooooooc — 'COOS • C2 © — « r~ CO ^H f- CO as oo a: .?ocooic;o)*u3ai sioo • ci -oosco •■<)o t-co o © • S3 00 • 00 00 GO • ©©© • r- «•*• © lO © ■ © 00 •CO X © • oot^co • t-oo — • WtJ< C5 coo ■ o ■ CO ooo • -*00t- OS CI • © ■ 00 00 05 • © J* © •uotiBuini.i8Q .ioj IS8.I, iSjpnj .ioj •paAtaoaj saidniBS jo .laqrarui t^iox cm co — 'rtrH^a^t-nH • -h co en ■ochh t-fO-HHiH^wai-XMrt :g : > : sc :2 .■•a* 5 ^si-s. Op»q THE TEXT OF THE LAW STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIKE. IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD ONE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND NINE. HOUSE BILL NO. 396. AN ACT To Eegulate the Sale of Agricultural Seeds. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Gen- eral Court convened: Section 1. Every lot of agricultural seeds, including seeds of cereals, grasses, forage plants, vegetables, garden plants, and white pine trees, but not including those of other trees, shrubs, and ornamental plants, which is sold, offered, or exposed for sale for seed in bulk or package of one pound or more, within this state, shall be accompanied by, a plainly written or printed guarantee, stating first its percentage of purity from foreign seeds and other matter, and second, its percentage of vitality. Sect. 2. Sellers or dealers in seeds may base their guarantees upon tests or analyses conducted by themselves, their agents, or by the secretary of the State Board of Agriculture or his agents, pro- vided that such tests or analyses shall be made in such a manner and under such conditions as the said secretary may prescribe. Sect. 3. The results of all tests or analyses of seeds made by the said secretary, together with the names and addresses of the persons from whom the samples of seed were obtained, shall be published annually in a bulletin by the New Hampshire College Experiment Station, and biennially in the report of the State Board of Agriculture. The said secretary shall also publish from time to time in the quarterly report of the State Board of Agri- culture equitable standards of purity and vitality, together with such information concerning agricultural seeds as may be of pub- lic benefit. Sect. 4. Whoever sells, offers, or exposes for sale or for dis- tribution, within this state, any agricultural seeds heretofore named in this act, without complying with the requirements of sections one and two, or whoever, with intention to deceive, wrongly marks or labels any lot of agricultural seeds, including the seeds of 10 Feb., 1912] results of seed tests, 1911 11 cereals, grasses, forage plants, vegetables, garden plants, and white pine trees, but not including those of other trees, shrubs, and ornamental plants, as pertains to their percentage of purity and vitality, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars for the first offense, and not exceeding two hundred dol- lars for each subsequent offense. Sect. 5. The provisions of the four preceding sections shall not apply to any person growing, selling, offering, or exposing for sale cereals and other agricultural seeds for food. Sect. 6. The secretary of the State Board of Agriculture shall diligently enforce the provisions of sections one and four of this act, and in his discretion prosecute offenses against the same. THE OBJECT OF THE LAW The object of this law is in substance the same as that of our pure food and fertilizer laws, namely, to have the buyer know just wnat he is buying. It is intended to provide a means whereby our farmers and other purchasers of seeds may have reliable in- formation, on the basis of which they may protect themselves against the introduction of noxious weeds and against loss through weak or otherwise worthless seeds; also to provide a reasonable protection for careful, conscientious dealers against negligent, de- signing, or unscrupulous ones. It is not the purpose or intent of the law to work a hardship on our seed dealers or to hurt their legitimate business, and neither is it intended to require farmers and other growers to purchase seeds of a better quality than they desire. LABELING The law does not apply to the common five and ten-cents pack- ages of garden and flower seeds. Only seeds sold in bulk or in packages of one pound or more are subject to the provisions of the law and are required to be accompanied by a guarantee stating their percentage of purity and vitality. The guarantee or label may be of any form desired by the seller of the seeds, as a tag, sticker, or direct brand upon the container. It must, however, be plainly written or printed, and placed dis- tinctly visible to the purchaser. Each dealer will provide his own labels. 12 n. h. experiment station [Bulletin 156 TAKING OF SAMPLES To secure a fair average sample of a lot or bulk, take small quantities from all of the bags or from different parts of any particular bulk. Mix thoroughly and take out the sample to be inspected. When the seeds are in bags or large bins, the use of a grain sampler is most convenient, since this will insure getting seeds from the top, middle, and bottom alike. Since the report of the analysis is based upon the nature of the sample inspected, it is important that the sample be carefully taken. SIZE AND AMOUNT OF SAMPLES The size and amount of the samples necessary for a test will depend upon the size and weight of the seeds. About one half ounce, or a tablespoonful of the smaller grass and vegetable seeds, like alsike and white clover, redtop, lettuce, onions, radish, turnip, etc.; about one ounce or two tablespoonfuls of the larger seeds, like timothy, millet, red clover, alfalfa, rape, etc.; and about four ounces, or a small cupful, of the cereal grains or vegetable seeds, like oats, barley, corn, peas, beans, etc., should be sent. SENDING OF SAMPLES Samples sent to the experiment station for testing should be enclosed in a strong paper envelope and securely fastened. Single samples should be sent by mail at the customary merchandise rates. When a number of samples are to be sent they should be put up securely in a single package and forwarded by mail or express, whichever way is the cheaper. Samples should not be sent in bot- tles or glass jars. Each sample sent in should be marked as fol- lows: Name and address of sender. Date of sending. Kind of seed. Brand name (if any), and number of package. Purity or germination test desired (one or both). Write a letter stating the number and kind of samples sent so that their receipt may be promptly acknowledged. Feb., 1912] results of seed tests, 1911 13 Address all samples and communications regarding the same to F. W. Taylor, Experiment Station, Durham, N. H. TESTS AND EXAMINATIONS Section two of the law states the provisions under which the tests and analyses shall be made. The secretary of the State Board of Agriculture has appointed F. W. Taylor, agronomist of the experiment station, as his regular agent for making all tests and analyses in this state. The sellers or dealers who desire to base their guarantees upon tests made by themselves or their agents must first secure the approval by the secretary of the State Board of Agriculture of the methods to be used in making the tests, and of the person who is to conduct them. EXPENSES OF TESTS AND ANALYSES As no funds are available for the secretary of the state board or for the experiment station to conduct the tests, a nominal charge, sufficient to cover the cost of making them, must be made. The charge for making a purity test will be seventy-five cents per sample. For seeds sold in mixtures the charge will be seventy-five cents for the sample and ten cents additional for each kind of seed said to be contained therein. The charge for making a germina- tion test will be twenty-five cents per sample. Seeds will be tested for any resident of the state, whether a dealer or not, at the above rates. OTHER INFORMATION Additional information concerning standards of purity and vital- ity, kinds of impurities, methods of examination and testing, dif- ferent kinds of germinating ovens, methods of reporting tests, etc., may be obtained by writing for Bulletin No. 148, N. H. Experi- ment Station. Other publications on the subject are as follows: Circulars Nos. 34 and 35, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 14 n. h. experiment station [Bulletin 156 Bulletin No. S.l, Canadian Department of Agriculture, Ot- tawa, Can. Bulletin No. 152, Maine Experiment Station, Orono, Me. Bulletin No. 146, Vermont Experiment Station, Burlington, Vt. Bulletin No. 260, Michigan Experiment Station, East Lansing, Mich. Circular No. 4, Wisconsin Experiment Station, Madison, Wis. Bulletin No. 127, Kentucky Experiment Station, Lexington, Ky. Bulletin No. 115, Iowa Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa. Bulletin No. 110, Nebraska Experiment Station, Lincoln, Neb- Seed Bulletin No. 1, No. Dakota Experiment Station, Fargo, N. D. 630.72 1T532 no. 152-168 DATE DUE A fine of Two Cents will be charged for each day the book is kept overtime. ] FEB f 1 ^i ! i i i*»f? '6( ) I tt . ■ I I I i i i i i ! I | I