Transactions of RHASS Volume 1940 - Page 241
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| Year | 1940 |
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| OCR Text |
BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT Consulting Botanist to the Society—(vacant). The Society has fixed the following scale of charges for the examination of plants and seeds for the bona fide and individual use and information of members of the Society (not being seedsmen), who are particularly requested, when applying to the Consulting Botanist, to mention the kind of examination required, and to quote its number as appearing in the undernoted Scale of Charges. The charge for examination must be paid at the time of application, and the carriage or post-age on all parcels must be prepaid. Scale of Charges for Examinations. . A report on the purity, amount, and nature of foreign materials, and the germinating power of a sample of seed . . ls. ‘ . Determination of the species of any weed or other plant, or of any vegetable parasite, with a report on its habits and the means for its extermination or prevention . . . ls. . Report on any disease affecting farm crops . . . ls. . Determination of the species of any natural grass or fodder plant, with a report on its habits and pasture or feeding value . . . . . . . . . 1s. The Consulting Botanist’s Reports are furnished to enable members —purchasers of seeds and corn for agricultural or horticultural pur- poses—to test the value of what they buy, and are not to be used or made available for advertising or trade purposes by seedsmen or otherwise. Purchase of Seeds. The purchaser should obtain from the vendor, by invoice or other writing, the proper designation of the seeds bought, with a guarantee of the percentage of purity and germination, and of its freedom from ergot, and in the case of clover, from the seeds of dodder or broom- rape. It is strongly recommended that the purchase of prepared mixtures of seeds should be avoided. The different seeds should be purchased separately and mixed by the farmer: mixtures cannot be tested for germination. 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 pur- chaser, and not from the sample sent by the vendor. ‘ BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT. 61 When legal evidence is required, the sample should be taken from the bulk, and placed in a sealed bag 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 bull: 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 clever and cereals two weeks, before they are to be used. The exact name under which the sample has been sold and pur- chased 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, though not germinating within the time stated, will be considered good 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 germination, and is obtained by multiply- ing these percentages and dividing by 100: thus in a sample of Meadow Fescue having 88 per cent purity and 95 per cent germina- tion, 88 multiplied by 95 gives 8360, and this divided by 100 gives 83-6, the Real Value. Selecting Specimens of Plants. The whole plant should be taken up and the earth shaken from the roots. If possible the plants should be in flower or fruit. They must 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 must be placed in a bottle, or packed in tinfoil or oil-silk. All specimens should be accompanied with a letter specifying the nature of the information required, and stating any local circum- stances (soil, situation, &c.) which, in the opinion of the sender, would be likely to throw light on the inquiry. NOTE—Members are reminded that Seeds may now be tested at the Department of Agriculture for Scotland Seed-testing Station. Samples should be addressed to T. Anderson, Esq., Seed-testing Station, East Craigs, Gorstorphine, Edinburgh. |
| Title | Transactions of RHASS Volume 1940 - Page 241 |
