DEPARTMENT EEPORTS. HI 



200 seeds of Marblehead in the garden, germinated 50 per cent 



15 seeds Marblehead in the hot room of the greenhouse, at 13G°F.86 per cent 



On June ICth, weather quite cool, seeds of melons were placed in porous 

 saucers for two weeks, where only one side was kept moist. No seeds germi- 

 nated. The seeds were then placed in dishes of moist sand and covered with 

 moist carpet paper. In four days, 50 seeds of the Boss, from J. H. Lau- 

 dreth's, were counted and showed that 86 per cent had germinated. The 

 same amount of Harris's Christina remained in the damp saucers three weeks 

 without germinating. They were then placed in sand as those above, and 

 after six days 80 per cent germinated. 



Seeds of Peerless water melons were sent me by D. M. Ferry & Co., with a 

 view to testing. 



On July 15, in the botanical laboratory, with an afternoon temperature 

 ranging about 86° F.,[360 seeds were placed in Krelage's test plates in lots of 

 25, HO, and 50 seeds. These plates were set in dinner plates containing a little 

 water, and all were covered to prevent evaporation. A trifle over 98 per cent 

 germinated. 



On the same day, in the same room, 900 seeds were placed in porous saucers 

 and these set in plates of water. In some saucers the seeds were kept under 

 water; in others, the seeds seemed too dry. Of all the 900, 96 per cent 

 germinated. 



On July 22d, in the same room, 600 Peerless melon seeds were tested in 

 porous saucers and 600 in test plates. 



Of those in saucers 95 per cent grew; 



Of those in test plates. 95.5 per cent grew; 



400 seeds in the garden averaged 57 per cent. 



On July 30th, in the hot vacant room of the greenhouse above referred to, 

 where the thermometer ran up to 136° F. in the daytime, 50 seeds of Peerless 

 water melon of the above lot gave 98 per cent of living seeds. In the damp 

 stove-room above mentioned 200 seeds gave 98 per cent. 



Summary of Testing Seeds of Peerless Water Melon. 



360 seeds in test plates, at 86° F., germinated 98 percent. 



900 seeds in porous saucers, at 86° F., germinated. 96 per cent. 



GOO seeds in test plates germinated 95.5 per cent. 



600 seeds in porous saucers 95 per cent. 



50 seeds in test plates in the greenhouse, at 136° F,, germinated 98 per cent. 



50 seeds in wet paper in the stove-room 98 per cent. 



Similar tests were made at the same time with seeds of White Spine cucum- 

 ber. 



200 seeds in the garden germinated 90 per cent. 



100 seeds in the greenhouse in plates, at 136° F., germinated.. 99 per cent. 



200 seeds in stove-room of the greenhouse germinated . 971 percent. 



By comparing all these summaries of tests of seeds of large squashes, 

 pumpkins, melons, and cucumbers it will be seen that seeds of cucumbers and 

 melons vary less when tested under different conditions than do seeds of 

 pumpkins and squashes; that seeds of squashes and pumpkins show the high- 

 est per cent of growing seeds when subiected to a maximum heat of 100° to 

 136° F. 



