THE EXPERIMENT STATION. 75 



It is noticeable that the varieties with a low vitality require a longer time 

 for germination and are weaker and more uneven than those that give a high 

 per cent of germination. 



The quality of the seeds tested indicates that while the seedsmen as a rule 

 send out seeds with a high per cent of germination, they frequently sell 

 seeds that from age or otherwise are worse than worthless. 



It is not fair to attribute any dishonest motives to the seedsmen whose 

 seeds were below the normal per cent, and the only value perhaps to the 

 public in the seed tests made by the different stations is to cause the seeds- 

 men to take increased precautions to sell only seeds that are fresh and vigor- 

 ous, and to show the purchasers the desirability of testing all seeds before 

 planting, and thus saving much labor and perhaps the loss of a crop. 



THE MIXING OF SEEDS. 



Our seed tests lead us to believe that many if not all seedsmen practice 

 the mixing of their old seeds with the new crop to an extent that cannot 

 fail to be injurious to the purchaser. It was especially marked in the case 

 of the cabbages, where some varieties germinated quickly and gave a high per 

 cent of strong, stocky plants, while of other varieties perhaps 25 per cent 

 sprouted in four days ; two or three days after this 20 per cent more 

 appeared, and still later another five per cent. The line between the differ- 

 ent germinations was very marked and seems to indicate that some of the 

 seed had been left over and had been mixed with new seed. With such 

 mixtures the tester gave a considerable higher per cent than the seed boxes. 



THE TESTS OF VEGETABLES AND FRUITS. 



During the winter a large collection of seeds of the new and promising 

 varieties of vegetables was obtained, and, with quite a number of standard 

 sorts for comparison, they were planted at the proper time either in the 

 forcing house or the garden. 



In order to learn the value of the novelties in the different parts of the 

 State fifty collections, containing from twelve to thirty varieties each, were 

 made up and sent to persons who agreed to plant them carefully and report 

 results in the fall. 



The spring was quite unfavorable to a good stand of the plants, and the 

 long continued cold wet spell in May and June, and the late frosts, were the 

 cause of partial failure with such tender plants as the melons, squashes, 

 cucumbers, corn and lima beans. The insects also were quite troublesome 

 and the striped cucumber beetle and the black flea beetle did serious injury 

 to several crops. 



An attempt was made to complete as far as was possible the collections of 

 fruits, both large and small. Among other additions were Russian and 

 hardy seedling apples from the northwest, Russian and other pears, plums 

 and cherries, with a long list of varieties of grapes, strawberries, raspberries 

 and blackberries. 



The trees planted in 1887 and 1888 are making a good growth and should 

 bear a small crop next year. The available land for fruits belonging to 

 this department is now all occupied, and at least ten acres should be set 

 apart for next spring's planting. 



