RESULTS OF TESTING SEEDS. 



281 



have germinated, is increased by adding to it a fraction, say 

 one-third, of the sound seeds which do not sprout at once. 

 Tlie rule for determining the per-cent value is clearly stated 

 in the Connecticut report previously quoted : — 



" The ' per-cent value ' of a sample of seed is obtained by 

 multiplying its per cent (by weight) of pure seed into the 

 per cent (by number) capable of germination, and dividing 

 by one hundred." 



Attention is to be directed to the difference in character 

 between certain agricultural seeds, like corn, which are pure, 

 and possess much vitality, and the forage grasses, which are 

 seldom free from impurities, and which have low vitality. If 

 this is disregarded, the results given in seed reports will be 

 erroneously interpreted.^ 



Some of the results obtained by different experimenters in 

 testing the vitality of seeds are here given. 



1. Professor Nobbe at Tharand, — 



AVFKAGE S\MPLF«! AVERAGE PER CENT OF 



A\r.KAGE .SA..IPLI,P. g^^g CONSIDERED GOOD. 



Red-top 21 



Oats 74 



Orchard-grass ........ 22 



Barley 88 



Timothy 82 



Pea 92 



Buckwheat ......... 71 



Rye 89 



Wheat 95 



Corn 70 



Carrot 59 



Tomato . . . 66 



2. At the Connecticut Experiment Station, — 



36 



Report of Connecticut Experiment Station, 1877, p. 49. 



