The economic importance of seed testing cannot be over-estimated. If the farmer or gardener sows seed which has lost its vitality he loses not only the original cost of the seed, but also the time and labor of sowing and the immediate use of the land on which it was planted. If he sows impure seed he suffers similar loss in proportion to the amount of adulteration and at the same time introduces noxious weeds which require a prolonged and expensive effort for their extermination.