108 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



and temperature; the manner of selecting an even lot of seeds; the quantity 

 of each to be used, and perhaps otlier matters wliich are not here mentioned. 



In German stations " Tlie kind of work done is ciiiefly the following: — 

 Determination of the genuineness of gendera or species; the total amount of 

 impurities; tlie nature of the impurities and their respective amounts; the 

 germinating power of seeds; the absolute weight of seeds; their specific 

 gravity; their weight per bushel; detection of sophistications, such as dyeing, 

 bleaching, oiling, etc." [Transactions of Highland Agrl. Soc, p. 288, 1878.] 

 To aid in carrying on this work, they need collections of genuine seeds of the 

 varieties, known to be pure; they need seeds of weeds accurately identified. 

 They need sieves of various grades, bellows, forceps, delicate scales, thermome- 

 ters, jars, test-plates, chemical tests, and other apparatus. The stations for 

 testing seeds in Europe are kept up by enterprising farmers, aided by the gov- 

 ernment. 



In the spring of 1881, I procured from a mill in Lansing some white wheat 

 of good quality. JSlothing was known of its age or history. On May 19th, ten 

 lots of lOU kernels each were tested, as follows: All the kernels which had a 

 suspicious look were rejected. The temperature of the botanical laboratory 

 where they were tested ranged from 00° to 80°, Fahrenheit. Small glazed sau- 

 cers were one-third full of wet sand. The dry wheat was placed on the sand, 

 which was covered with tiiick carpet-paper, soaking wet. Over all was a board 

 with a little chance for air. A little water was added, as the seeds seemed to 

 need it. After a time the papers moulded some, and the roots of the wheat 

 penetrated the papers. The dryest looking lots did the best. 



After six days, tiie result showed, that out of ten lots of 100 each, the fol- 

 lowing numbers had sprouted : 81, 82, 84, 85, 85, 87, 89, 89, 90, 96 — an average 

 of 86.8 per cent. 



On May 23d, in the same room, with the same apparatus used in a similar 

 manner, the same quantity of the same lot of seeds were tested with tlie fol- 

 lowing results: 56, 75, 75," 76, 77, 78, 78, 79, 82, 89, out of each 100 germi- 

 nated, averaging 76.5 percent. Here is a difference in the results of 10 3-10 

 per cent, for which I cannot account. 



On July 23d, was tested some hand-picked red wheat of first-rate quality. 

 It was shelled by hand, and not quite dry enough to grind well. In glazed 

 dishes, between wet folds of heavy carpet paper, were placed two lots of 100 

 kernels each. The paper was kept moist till August first, when the seeds were 

 counted with the following results: 100, 100, 100, 100; an average of 100 

 per cent in germination. 



On August 2d, wheat soaked 12 hours in water was placed in test plates in 

 the tropical room of the green-house as follows: The temperature ranged 

 from about 80° to 100° F. In four days, 116, and 116 out of 150, and 150 

 kernels of the Ingersoll wheat germinated — about 77 per cent; 150 and 150 

 kernels of fresh red college wheat germinated out of 150 and 150 kernels, or 

 100 per cent. 



On August 2d, sauce dishes kept damp were placed in a vacant room in the 

 green house, where in the day time the heat ran up to 130°-13G°F. Out of 

 two lots of 100 kernels each of Ingersoll wheat, 50 and 65 germinated, — 57-5 

 percent; and loO per cent of two lots of 100 kernels each of fresh college 

 wheat germinated. 



On August 2d, wheat was tested in the botanical laboratory as follows : The 

 temperature during the day, for a part of the time, was 94° to 98° F., and all 

 the time very warm. 



