Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-05-07
PURE FARM SEEDS.
A Bill Now Before the New York
Legislature Bears on This Matter.

A very important resolution was
adopted by the New York state grange
relative to pure farm seeds. The es-
sence of it has been embodied in a bill
now before the Legislature. AS this is
a matter of Importance to farmers In
every state, we reproduce the resolution
as adopted and suggest that Patrons
watch the progress of this measure in
the New York legislature and give it
the benefit of their influence. This is
the resolution:
Whereas, 1t appears from information
presented to this grange that the traffic
in clover seed and other farm seeds in
cludes large expectations of the best
American grown seeds in Canada and the
countries of Europe; and,
Whereas, 1t also appears that these for
eign countries maintain and enforce strin-
gent inspection laws against the seeds of
the United States, which does not main
tain inspection laws against the seeds
imported from those countries; and,
Whereas, These conditions operate in
such a way that, while much of the best
American seed is exported to foreign
countries, the portions rejected by their
nspectors-consisting of seeds of low vi
tally, dead seeds, weed seeds and dirt.
being, in fact screenings-are reimported
TO this country and mixed by dealers
with seed put upon the home market for
sale to our farmers, to their pecuniary
loss and the detriment of their lands;
and,
Whereas, We are informed by expert
testimony that the demand by American
farmers for seed that is low in price is
the chief cause of this dishonest practice;
therefore, be it
Resolved That We invite our sister
oranges throughout the country to place
these facts under consideration to the end
that by the creation OF strong public
sentiment congress may be led to enact
such legislation as shall put an end to
this and all similar frauds upon the
American farmer; and.
Resolved, That we urge upon our broth
er farmers everywhere to consider care
fully. in the light of these facts. the folly
Of buying cheap seeds
Following are the provisions Of the
bill:
No person shall sell, offer. expose or
have in his possession for sale for the pur-
poses Of seeding any seeds of cereals.
grasses, cloVers or forage plants in guam
titles exceeding one pound unless every
receptacle. package, sack or bag contain
ing such seeds a label securely attach
ed thereto is marked in a plain, indelible
manner follows:
(a) With the full name and address of
the seller
(b) With the name and the kind or kinds
of seeds
(c) The percentum of purity of the sam
pie.
(d) With the common name or names OF
the weeds the seeds of which. II any, are
present in the seed sold. offered. exposed
or held in possession for sale.
For the purposes of this act such seed
so offered or exposed for sale shall be
deemed to be free from prohibited seeds
II they do not exist in greater proportion
than five of any one kind to 1000 OF the
seed being Sold offered, exposed or held
in possession for sale. The provisions of
this act shall not apply to any person
selling seeds direct to merchants TO be
cleaned or graded before being offered for
sale for the purposes of seeding nor to
seed that Is held in storage for the pur-
pose of being recleaned and which has
not been offered. exposed or held in pos
session for sale for the purpose of seed
! ing nor to seed marked mot Absolutely
Clean" and held or sold for export only.
This act shall take effect Immediately