280 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



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at a given date must be noted and recorded. Side by side 

 with this apparatus, other seeds of the same sample are to be 

 placed on moist blotting-paper, carefully covered, and kept 

 damp. 



At the Connecticut Station a simple and ingenious substi- 

 tute for the Nobbe seed-testing apparatus was made from 

 porous flower-pot saucers, placed in other saucers two inches 

 wider, and containing water, the whole covered by an in- 

 verted flower-pot. That the apparatus thus suggested is 

 efficient appears from the following statement of results : — 



"In thirty-three trials made with the common field and 

 garden seeds, both in Nobbe's apparatus and in unsized 

 paper, — 



" 4,668 seeds sprouted in the apparatus. 

 4,604 seeds sprouted in the paper. 

 493 remained sound, without sprouting, in the apparatus. 

 470 remained sound, without sprouting, in the paper, 



" Or, for over one hundred seeds which sprouted in paper, — 



" 101 sprouted in the apparatus. 



10 seeds out of 104.7 remained sound in the apparatus. 

 10 seeds out of 108 remained sound in the paper. 



"In twenty-two trials made with similar kinds of seeds, 

 both in the saucer arrangement and in paper, — 



"2,659 seeds sprouted in the saucers. 

 2,693 seeds sprouted iu the paper. 

 286 seeds remained sound, without sprouting, in the saucers. 

 258 seeds remained sound, without sprouting, in the paper. 



" Or, for over one hundred seeds which sprouted in paper, — 



" 99 sprouted in the saucers. 

 10 seeds out of 103 remained sound in the saucers. 

 10 seeds out of 114 remained sound in the papers." 



The seeds of squashes, pumpkins, and some melons, do not 

 give good results in the sprouting apparatus. It is best to 

 cover them slightly with moist sand, and place a suitable 

 cover over the receptacle to prevent evaporation. 



The time of the experiments just referred to varies for 

 different seeds ; but generally it does not exceed four or five 

 days. The number of seeds, which, out of a given number. 



