The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-08-18
THE sEED-CONTROL SYSTEM IN
EUROPE.
It's Applicability to the American Seed
Trade.

I @APPJ
Trade.
An interesting paper on this subject
was read before the American Seed
Trade Association at Cincinnati, o.,
June 10th, by Mr.. Gerald Mccarthy,
BOtanist of the North Carolina Expert
ment Stations who kindly furnishes the
Country Gentleman a copy for publ
cation. We give below the material
portion Of the essay.-EdS.
The first institution for testing the
quality of commercial seeds, according
to modern scientific methods, was eS-
tablished at T~harandt, in Germany, IN
1870. Since then similar institutions
have been established in nearly all the
States of the German Empire, and IN
Austria, Switzerland. Italy and Den
mark. In England the Royal Agricul-
tural Society employs skilled bOtanlSt
to test seeds for members, All OF these
institutions are controlled by State
governments, and are supported partly
by grants Of public funds and partly
by fees. Tie organization Of the differ
ent stations consists of a reputable bot
anist at the head, with q corps of
trained assistants.
Seed samples are tested only as to
their purity and power OF termination,
in 50 far as these facts can be ascer-
tanned by botanical inspection and by
tests of the seeds in specially con
structed sprOuting apparatus. 1t IS
possible for q competent bOtanlSt to dis
eliminate the seeds of most species OF
plants by microscopic examination,
but it is not possible by this means to
distinguish the seeds of mere varieties.
Thus a bOtanIst can by simple inSpeC-
ton and without trouble distinguish
turnip seed from cabbage or radish
seed. but cannot discriminate one
variety of cabbage seed from another.
This can be done only by actually
growing the plants. For testing varie-
ties most European ~Seed-cOntrOl sta
tiOuS have trial gardens, but the genu-
menCSS Of the variety is not guaranteed
or tested except under a special agree
ment and by payment of a special fee.
germInatlve power OF the seeds Is
a~SCertained by actually sprOuting a
sample. Usually 400 genuine seeds
are taken without deliberate selection
from the sample to be tested. These
ure divided into two equal portions and
tested in separate dishes of the appar-
atuS. The average Of the two lots IS
taken for the mean vitality of the
original sample. Where the difference
between the Two lots exceeds 10 per
the test is discarded and re
peated. The apparatus used in differ
ent testing stations. though differing
more D. less in detail, is based upon the
same principles. The seeds are sup
piled with the amount of warmth and
moisture which experience shows to be
most conducive to the growth of the
different species. The tests are there
fore always nor favorable to the
seeds than an outdoor soil test would
be.
In a country where there are more
than n testing station, it is very de
sirable that the stations shall all use
the some apparatus and method, in
Ordcrthat the work of different stations
may be directly comparable and serve
mutual checks.
The most celebrated seed control sta
ton in Europe IS located at Zurich.
under the patronage and control of
the Swiss government. This station
does testing for SocdSmen in all parts
of Europe. It does not affiliate with
the German stations, and it's methods
somewhat from those used in
Germany.
The methods of the Swiss station are
those most applicable to the American
social and political system. and to the
needs of the American seed trade. |
shall therefore describe fully only
those methods of the Swiss station: By
act of the Swiss Federal Congress, all
seed dealers, without exception, offer
ing seeds for sale within the confines
of the republic, are .Obliged to have
their seeds tested at the Zurich station, |
and to brand or otherwise mark each
r0taiI package with the percentage of
pure vital seed as reported by the sta
ton. For foreign patrons the station
has tao SyStemS-tirSt, the "private |
contract" by which, for q specified
sum per annum, each patron has the
to have q certain number of |
samples tested for his own satisfaction. |
the private contract system,
the Swiss station has no connection
with the customers of it's patrons. The |
second system is the "cOntrOl-cOntract." |
this contract each patron has. |
as under the private contract, the right |
to have a certain number of samples |
analysed and reported upon; and in
addition to this, it has the right to |
print on It's advertisements the legend: |
I" Under control Of the Swiss Seed |
Control Station" All seeds are sold
under a specific guarantee of purity
and vitality, and each customer of the |
COntrOl-COntract patron has the privi-
of sending to the station, free of |
charge, a sample Of the seeds bought
by him, and if the same falls short of
the guaranteed quality, the seller is
compelled to give a commensurate re-
duction in price, or to receive back the
seeds, paying carriage both ways, as
the purchaser prefers. To protect the
dealer from imposition, the customer
who proposes to send a sample to the
is required to take the same, |
in the presence Of two responsible and