considerable amount of burr clover, which is used for the same purpose. It is found mixed with the samples from all over the country. Not only from the Eastern states, but from the seed growing sections of the West, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas. We find those seeds mixed in with the alfalfa that we supposed we were buying from the farmers.

I think that it is time that we took the matter up and decided upon some course of action. Without being requested to do so the Department has sent a representative here to talk to us on this subject. I received a telegram from Mr. Duvel on Monday, stating that he would be here, and he arrived last night. He would be glad to address us on the question if we wish to hear him.

Personally I did not feel that I could invite him to address us without the members taking action on the point. What is your wish in this matter, gentlemen?

Mr. McVay: I cannot see any reason why the American Seed Trade Association should not be glad of the opportunity to hear Professor Duvel on this question, and if it is necessary to make a motion to that effect I would move that we invite Professor Duvel to address the convention.

Which being seconded by Mr. Roland Bolgiano, was carried, and the Chair appointed Messrs. Bolgiano and Lupton to invite Professor Duvel to address the meeting, and at the same time to invite Professors Piper and Tracey to be present at the discussion.

The President: There is also a letter on this subject which I would like you to hear. It is from Mr. Windheim, manager of the Nebraska Seed Company. He says: Omaha, Neb., Nov. 22, 1904.

Iowa Seed Co.,

Des Moines, Iowa.

Gentlemen-We have just read quite a long article in the Wallace Farmer, issued Nov. 4, 1904, wherein they give quite a write up about adulterated seeds, especially on clover and alfalfa. Also note in one part they state the legislature which meets this winter should enact laws holding sellers responsible for the spread of dodder and stating that they shall call upon

the Iowa legislature, and if possible have them enact similar

legislation.

There is no doubt there has been a good deal of adultera-

tion going on with some seed houses. As far as dodder and
some other seeds that are commonly found in clover and
alfalfa and other grass seeds, are concerned, it will first be
necessary to pass laws to prohibit the farmers from selling
clover, alfalfa, etc., which contain dodder, or other obnoxious
weed seeds, as the seedsman does not produce the seed, al-
though he may sell it with dodder or other obnoxious weed
seeds in it, as some seedsmen do not know what the seed of
dodder looks like, and it is sometimes impossible to take the
article out. It might be for the good of the whole seed trade
for some Iowa concern to look into the law that the Wallace
Farmer would like to have passed.

Would be very much pleased to hear from you regarding

this matter.
Yours truly,

THE NEBRASKA SEED CO.

Omaha, Neb., Dec. 16th, 1904.

Chas. N. Page,

Des Moines, Iowa.

Dear Sir:-Yours of the 13th inst. at hand and contents not-

ed. We believe it would be well for the Secretary of the

American Seed Trade Assn., to make it a point to get a copy

of each and every farm paper as it is issued, and have same

looked through to find just such articles as we accidentally

discovered in the Wallace Farmer. It is just as you state, a

great many of these agricultural editors are anxious to cater

to the good opinion of the farmers and are overlooking the

injustice they may be doing to somebody else.

Yours truly,

THE NEBRASKA SEED CO.

The article that Mr. Windheim refers to appeared in the
"Wallace Farmer" of Des Moines, in regard to dodder and
red clover in alfalfa.

There had been a rumber of complaints of it last season—
something which we had never heard of before.

On receipt of this letter I went at once to see Mr. Wallace, and further action on the subject was "squelched." The matter was not brought up before the Legislature.

I think that this shows the desirability of having a Committee on Legislation, and not only national legislation, but state legislation as well. A committee which will try to prevent unfavorable state legislation would be a great advantage. I understand that there have been some state laws passed which were unfavorable to the seed trade.

I would be glad to hear the views of the members on the subject.

Mr. McVay: It seems to me that the seedsmen can very easily protect themselves, by having the alfalfa that they buy analyzed before they offer it to the trade.

I understand that Mr. Duvel is quite willing to make such analysis, and give you the result very promptly. For instance, they can give them within forty-eight hours after they get the samples.

It seems to me to be a very simple thing when a seedsman purchases a lot of seed to send samples to the seed laboratory at Washington, and there they will analyze them and let you have the result very promptly. That can be done very easily, and in view of this fact there is no good reason why a seedsman should sell alfalfa, or red clover that is loaded with trefoil or dodder.

The President: If there are no other remarks on the subject we will proceed with the business before the convention, while waiting for Professor Duvel.

The next item we have to deal with is the report of the Committee on Customs, Tariff and Express. Mr. Breck is chairman of this committee, but he is unable to be present with us to-day, owing to ill health; however, he sent in the report, and I would ask the Secretary to read it.

The Secretary then read the report of the committee as follows:

To the President and Gentlemen of the American Seed Trade Association:

Perhaps the most important matter that has come to the

attention of your Committee on Customs, Tariff and Express is the result of the effort to obtain a reversal of the ruling of the Treasury Department concerning the market value of seeds. In view of the opposition of the Treasury Department, it can readily be seen that the influence and effort of the entire seed and nursery trade of the country, represented by eminent council, would be required to hope to achieve success. As this means large expense and much expenditure of time and thought on the part of certain individuals intrusted with the management of the case, it was decided to bring the matter before the association at its next annual convention for such action as might be deemed advisable. Further than this matter of market values, nothing of moment has come before your committee. The American Nurserymen's Association and the Association of American Florists have been addressed through their Presidents hoping that from them suggestions concerning some matter of tariff, customs and express might be forthcoming that would be of interest to the trade generally. Although nothing directly from these associations has come to your committee, it is understood that the Nurserymen's Association will have something to offer along this line at the time. of the meeting at Alexandria Bay. It would greatly enhance the usefulness of your committee if members, whenever they had any thought of improvement in connection with matters concerning tariff, customs and express, would report the same to the President or Secretary of the American Seed Trade Association.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

S. G. COURTEEN,

R. W. CLUCAS.

FRANK W. BOLGIANO,

By CHAS. H. BRECK,

Chairman.

Mr. Willard: Mr. President, I would move that the report of the Committee on Customs, Tariff and Express be accepted and placed on record.

Which being duly seconded was agreed to.

The President: We have another report to hear at this

time, and that is the report of the Membership Committee. would ask Mr. Albert McCullough if he is prepared to present it?

Mr. Albert McCullough: The committee has three names to present to the members, they are William Ewing & Co., Montreal. We have acted upon this firm favorably, and recommend its admission as members of the Association.

Then we have the name of H. C. Bassler, Waterloo, Neb., and the Planters' Seed Company, Springfield, Mo. None of the members of the committee are personally acquainted with either of those firms, nor have we been able to gather sufficient data concerning their business or the length of time they have been in business or the extent of their business, in order to pass upon them in any way, and, therefore, we submit their names to the Association without any recommendation whatever, unless it should happen that there might be some members here who are personally acquainted with either of them.

Mr. Bassler is proposed by Mr. J. C. Vaughan. His name was sent in some six or eight months ago. As well as I have been able to learn he is a small grower. He grows something less than ten acres.

The Planters' Seed Company was presented by the Goodwin Harries Co., of Chicago. They are not represented at this meeting.

Mr. Braslan: Mr. Goodwin, with whom I have had a talk, says that they are very reliable people, and he asked me to state so. I do not know of them personally, but he asked me to mention the fact that they are a very reliable concern.

Mr. Schisler: The Planters' Seed Company used to be the Planters' Seed Company of St. Louis. They are doing a good business, and I think they are all right.

The President: Gentlemen, you have heard the report of the Membership Committee, recommending the name of William Ewing & Company of Montreal, and presenting the names, without any recommendation, of H. C. Bassler, Waterloo, Neb., and The Planters' Seed Co., Springfield, Mo. What action will you take upon it?