10 THE VITALITY AND GERMINATION OF SEEDS. 



Tlio results of the above experiments have suggested improved 

 methods of storing and shipping seeds so as to prolong their vitality 

 and also to secure the production of more vigorous seedlings. 



The work for the present i)aper was begun in 189*J at the University 

 of Michigan and was continued for three consecutive years while the 

 writer held the Dexter M. Ferry Botanical Fellowship in that institu- 

 tion. During this time the investigation was under the direction of 

 Prof. V. M. Spalding, Ph.D., and Dr. F. C. Newcombe, who showed 

 great interest in it and gave valuable suggestions as the work pro- 

 gressed, at the same time phunng the facilities of the laboratory and 

 of the librarj^ at the disposal of the writer. Since September 1, 1902, 

 the work has been continued in the Seed Laborator}^ of the U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture. Valuable assistance in storing seeds was 

 rendered by Prof. C. W. Burkett, at Durham, N. H. ; Mr. E. E. Smith, 

 Wagoner, Ind. T. ; Prof. W. R. Dodson, Baton Rouge, La. ; Prof. F. S. 

 Earle, Auburn, Ala.; Zimmer Brothers, Mobile, Ala.; Prof. H. H. 

 Hume, Lake City, Fla., and Prof. Charles B. Scott, San Juan, Porto 

 Rico. 



MATERIAI.S AND METHODS. 



SEEDS. 



For these experiments thirteen different samples of seeds were used, 

 being so selected as to include representatives of ten different families 

 and twelve genera and species, as follows: 



Poacese — Zea mays, sweet corn (two samples). 



Liliaceai — Allium cepa L., onion. 



Brassicaeeae — Br arnica oleracea L., cal)bage; Rafplianus sativum L., 

 radish. 



Apiacese — Daucus carota L., carrot. 



Fahacepe, — Pisum sativum, L., pea; Phaseolus vulgaris L., bean. 



Yiolacese — Viola tricolor L. , pansy. 



Poleinoniacese — Phlox drmnmondii Hook, phlox. 



Solanacex — Lycopersicon lycopersicuvi (L.) Karst., tomato, 



CucurUtacece—Citrullus citruUus (L.) Karst., watermelon. 



Asteracese — Laxituca sativa L. , lettuce. 



It will thus be seen that the seeds used cover a wide range as to 

 family characteristics, as well as size, structure, and composition of 

 seed. Likewise they are all from plants of the garden or held that 

 have undergone a high degree of cultivation, thus enabling the seeds 

 to withstand more or less variation as to conditions of vitality and 

 growth. 



AU seeds used throughout these experiments were provided by 

 D. M. Ferry & Co., of Detroit, Mich., and the seed furnished was of 

 strong vitality and of known age and origin. The corn "A" (Minne- 

 sota Sweet), onion (Yellow Danvers), pea (D. M. Ferry Extra Early), 

 bean (Yellow Kidney, Six Weeks), tomato (Dwarf Champion), and the 



