1 JANUARY 1960, Page 24

PRESSURE GROUP

SIR,-1 was very interested in the 'Spectator's Note- book' dealing with the pressures exerted by the

seed trade, or certain organs of the seed trade,

on the Shopper's. Guide. Bernard Levin states that under the Seeds Act of 1920 all agricultural seeds are

regulated, but this regulation simply refers to germihation and purity, and the only guarantee given is that they have been attested in accordance with the provisions of this same Seeds Act. On the back of every invoice for farm seeds you will find this: In accordance with the established custom of the seed trade, the seedsman gives -no other guarantee. It is therefore not a condition of sale, neither do we warrant, expressly or impliedly by or under the terms of the Sale of Goods Act 1893, or any statute or enactment that the seeds, bulbs or roots supplied shall correspond with the description Under which they are sold, or be fit for any particular purpose, or free from in- jurious or latent defect such as Loose Smut disease of wheat, and we will not be responsible for the crop.

The giving of an order to the seedsman con- stitutes an acceptance of these terms by the purchaser who, if he does not accept these terms, must return the goods forthwith.

So you will see that even an Act of Parliament is no great protection to the purchaser under the Seeds Act. It is impossible to buy any farm seeds except under these conditions.

The position though in the case of farming is not quite as bad as it looks on the surface. Any farmer who bought seed which then didn't grow as pre- scribed on the invoice would not be slow to tell his neighbours, the firm's goodwill would suffer, and in practice any complaints would probably be met by the firm concerned in an effort to preserve its good name. This, in fact, is the argument always put forward when the farming organisations attempt to get this condition of sale, which is known as the Seedsman's Non-Warranty Clause, removed. Keep up the good work !—Yours faithfully,

J. 0. CHERRINGTON

Tangley Farm, Tangley, Near Andover, Hants