DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 



77 



Seeds 

 Tested. 



Cauliflower 50+50 



Cabbage 50+50 



Lettuce 50+50 



Onions 50+50 



Parsnip 50+50 



Radish 50+50 



Salsify-. 50+50 



Squash ]0+10 



Tomato 50+50 



James VicJc. 



Beet 50+50 



Carrot 50+50 



Corn... 50+50 



Cucumber 50+50 



Cauliflower 50+50 



Cabbage 50+50 



Lettuce 50+50 



Onion 50+50 



Parsnip 50+50 



Radish 50+50 



Salsify 50+50 



Tomato 50+50 



A COMPABISON. 



BeloAv I give a table couipariug the same varieties of seeds of each firm 

 the seeds of which were tested. 



I give the per cent of seeds which germinated in eacli case, then the average 

 for the eight varieties. 



Bliss. Ferry. Gregory. Henderson. Thorbiirn. Tick. 



Beets 79 82 83 73 82 68 



Carrots 59 67 80 05 97 59 



Cucumber 93 90 82 75 45 77 



Cabbage 75 62 91 71 65 89 



Lettuce 75 3 2 68 82 69 



Onion 43 78 46 85 95 84 



Parsnip 78 85 79 71 89 61 



Tomato 51 20 -96 69 51 61 



Average 69 61 70 ' 65 76 71 



The average is not e.xact, but very near in each case. 



The above were tested together in the same room. Perhaps the most striking 

 thing in the last table, or in all of them is the uneven size of the figures. 

 Seedsmen generally refuse to guarantee that their seeds will grow, but claim to 

 exercise all diligence in testing their seeds before sending them out. It would 

 seem a needless oversight to send out seeds which run as low as some of those 

 run from each of the firms above mentioned. 



In most cases I think tliat the above average is lower than it should be were 

 proper care taken to throw out poor seeds. 



The tables should impress this important fact on the minds of all who grow 

 vegetables — that for good, pure seeds, the only reliable way is to raise them 

 yourself, even if they cost five times as much as it does to buy them. If they 

 are purchased, it will pay to buy early and then test before sowing for the 

 main crop. 



