96 : tIiE CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURAL 



SEED TESTS. ' 



During the year 122 samples of seeds have been tested with 

 regard to their vitality, and many of these tests have been re- 

 peated a number of times in experimenting with new forms of 

 apparatus and in studying the effect of temperature on germination. 



In this study attention has been chiefly directed to onion seed 

 because its production is a long established business in this State, 

 and the station is more often called upon to test, this than any 

 other kind of seed. 



Onion Seed. 



Within the last few years the Station has tested a considerable 

 number of samples which wei"e sent in by growers or wholesale 

 dealers with information as to the variety of the seed, its age, 

 and the locality where it Avas grown. These samples represented 

 seed ready for market after winnowing and separating the small, 

 light seed. 



On the following pages are tabulated the results of those tests 

 which were made on seed i-eputed to be less than one year old. 



lumbers 130, 131, 138, 230, 253, 254, 255 and 258 are believed 

 to have been more than one year old at the time of testing This 

 is indicated by their low vitality and the fact that so large a per- 

 centage of seed remained hard at the end of the sprouting test. 

 See Report of this Station for 1882, page 95. 



Excluding these eight samples, the vitality of 72 samples is 

 found to be on the avei-age 81.8 per cent., ranging from 58.8 to 

 99.5 per cent., and the average weight of 79 samples, per 1000 

 seeds is 3. 773 grams. 



On only four varieties have a considerable number of tests 

 been made. Their average vitality and weight are as follows : 



Variety. No. of 



teste. 



White Portugal 11 



Wethersfield Large Red 16 



Danvers Yellow 18 



White G-lobe 10 



The results of these tests show that the vitality of seed of 

 the same variety and raised in the same geographical region 



