4 8S SCIENCE PROGRESS 



is especially the case in such a grass as the meadow foxtail. 

 In some cases this seed is pure chaff. When the seed is 

 examined by transmitted light the presence or absence of the 

 kernel is observable. In the great majority of Stations these 

 blind seeds are treated as impurities, but where seed is bought 

 by the bushel (or by volume) it would be more equitable to 

 include them in the germination test. 



3. Germination 



The seed from which the impurities have been removed 

 is taken, and from it a definite number, varying according to 

 the seed under inquiry — 200 to 400 generally — is separated 

 without selection, and placed under suitable conditions of 

 temperature, air, and moisture for germination. At the end 

 of a certain time, from a few days in the case of clovers and 

 flax, to 28 or even 35 days in the case of some of the Poas, 

 all the seeds capable of germinating will have sprouted, and 

 can have been counted. In this way the percentage of germi- 

 nation is obtained. This varies from seed to seed, but should 

 not vary much for the same kind, even from season to season, 

 when the seed is ripe and fresh. Excellent work was done 

 by Mr. W. Carruthers, F.R.S., the Consulting Botanist to 

 the Royal Agricultural Society, when that Society was led 

 to issue a schedule of agricultural seeds indicating the 

 minimum percentage of germination of each kind which the 

 seedsman should be asked to guarantee to the member when 

 purchasing. 



The riper and more perfect the seed, the more quickly and 

 uniformly will it germinate. This is called the Germinating 

 Energy, and is usually expressed in an Interim Report. 

 Old and not well "filled" seeds have a low and irregular 

 germinating energy. Some seedsmen seem to act on the 

 view that a seed is never too old to be sold, and save 

 seed from one year to another year on the ground that next 

 season, owing to adverse weather, there may be a shortage 

 of supply. Such prevision and provision are supported by 

 the statement that, in some cases, two-year old seeds give 

 better plants. In the majority of cases, one-year old seed is 

 the best to sow. From two years on, seeds lose their vitality 

 by degrees. 



