234 STATE HORTICULTUKAIi SOCIETY. 



The varieties started under glass made a good growth, and nearly all 

 formed firm heads. By comparing the results obtained in the tester, and 

 in the seed boxes, with the notes on the appearance of the young plants in 

 the seed boxes, we find a very striking similarity. With fresh clean seeds 

 our tester will show 99 to 100 per cent., and from 90 to 95 per cent, can be 

 obtained from the seed boxes. With these seeds we only obtained 100 per 

 cent, in a single case, and in three cases out of nineteen it fell below 70 per 

 cent. Where the tester shows over 90 per cent., and the seed box over 80 

 per cent, the plants are "strong and even," but below these figures we find 

 them 'Sveak and uneven," below 60 per cent, they are "very weak and uneven." 

 Out of twenty-three varieties sown in the forcing house, ten gave plants 

 strong and even with a vegetation of 84 per cent, while thirteen were weak 

 and uneven with a showing of only 50 per cent. In most of the varieties 

 of the first group all the plants appeared at once, but in nearly all the 

 others, there seemed to be at least two or three vegetations. The first to 

 appear were strong and vigorous, while the others were weak and spindling. 

 Only in a few cases did the seed appear uniformly weak. 



This experience with cabbage seed corresponds with what has been 

 noticed with other seeds for a number of years. While a majority of the 

 seeds sent by seedsmen possess a vitality sufficiently high to secure a 

 crop, a large per cent, is old stock and, especially under unfavorable condi- 

 tions, may result in an uneven stand and an unprofitable crop. 



It is also very evident that nearly, if not all, seedsmen make use of their 

 old stock by mixing it with their new seeds. While it may be better for 

 the purchaser to have seed half of which will grow than to have that from 

 which few or no plants can be obtained, he is entitled to good seed, and the 

 custom of mixing seeds is as fraudulent as that of adulterating milk or 

 fertilizers. 



In drawing conclusions as to the value of the different kinds from the 

 showing made by them in the table it will be necessary to distinguish 

 between those planted March 4, and those sown in the open ground May 

 14. Of the former class Landreth's Earliest, Everitt's Earliest, New 

 Express — Ely, New Express — Everitt, and Early Etampes are much alike 

 in appearance. They mature at the same time and are equally valuable 

 varieties. Early Jersey Wakefield from Ferry and Henderson is more 

 conical, but in earliness and general value there is little difference. 



Closely following these varieties come Henderson's Early Summer, Early 

 Summer Flat Head, New Peerless, New Cassell, and Succession. The last 

 three kinds are imi3rovements on the Henderson's Early Summer which they 

 much resemble. The heads are large, solid and even in size. Succession in 

 particular is very promising,as it is as early as Henderson's Summer and pro- 

 duces heads one half larger. Two weeks later the Vandergaw and Keedland 

 Early Drumhead matured, l)oth of which made a good showing. They will 

 probably supersede Fottler's Brunswick. Of the later kinds Bloom sdale 

 Late Flat Dutch, Chase's Excelsior, Genuine Surehead, Joseph Mason, Large 

 Late Flat Dutch, and Louisville Drumhead, all gave satisfactory results. 

 On account of the unfavorable season several of the kinds planted in the 

 open ground failed to mature perfect heads. 



