32 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMti 



7-8 EDVMRD VII., A. 1908 

 TESTS OF THE VITALITY OF SEED GRAIN AND OTHER SEEDS. 



The following report includes tests of grain and other seeds grown on the several 

 experimental farms, as well as those bought with the object of growing them on the 

 farms. The list also includes tests of the vitality of a number of specimens of grain 

 grown in the several provinces of the Dominion from the samples distributed from 

 the Central Experimental Farm. These tests have been made with the object of 

 ascertaining what climatic conditions are most favourable for producing seed of high 

 vitality and how far this desirable quality is likely to be influenced by variations in 

 character of season. Formerly these tests included a number of doubtful samples 

 which were believed by the parties sending them to have been injured in their vitality 

 by exposure to unfavourable conditions. All such samples are now referred to the 

 Seed Commissioner for report. The results rei>orted on here are the average proportions 

 of vitality shown by samples of grain grown in different parts of the several provinces 

 of Canada under healthy and normal circumstances. In the following table shov/ing 

 the results by provinces, the total percentage of vitality is given^ also the percentage 

 of strong and weak growth. 



RESULTS OF TESTS OF SEEDS FOR VITALITY, 1905-03. 



Total number of samples tested, 1,634. Highest percentage of vitality observed, 100; lowest, 2. 



