THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 379 



Impermeable clover seed sowed early in the spring is of more value 

 than the same seed sowed later, when the weather has become settled 

 and warm, because many of the permeable seeds may possibly be 

 killed by the early spring weather. 



Assuming that all seeds have been tested for germinating capacity 

 and percentage of impermeable (hard) seeds, calculate the amount of 

 seed to sow as follows : 



Red clover, alsike clover, white clover and white sweet clover. 

 "When seed is to be sowed in late spring or summer, calculate one-tenth 

 of the impermeable seed as good. Add one-tenth of the percentage of 

 impermeable seed to the percentage of germination. Calculate from 

 this sum the quantity of seed of the given lot necessary to give the 

 desired quantity of good germinable seed. For example : 



Required : 15 pounds of viable seed to acre, none of which is hard 

 seed. 



Test of seed bought 50 per cent germination, 40 per cent hard seed: 

 50-|-'*%o equals 54, the total per cent of seed which will germinate from 

 each pound of tested seed. To get the number of pounds of such seed 

 necessary to sow per acre to equal 15 pounds viable seed, divide 15 by 

 54 per cent, which equals 27.8, the number of pounds of seed required 

 per acre. 



For alfalfa and crimson clover consider two-thirds of the percentage 

 of "hard seeds" as good, and proceed as above. 



For hairy vetch consider one-half the impermeable seed as good and 

 proceed as under red clover. 



As a general rule it can be said that hard seeds are of doubtful 

 value. In California the winters are so mild that seed sown in the fall 

 readily germinates with the first rains. Under such conditions the per- 

 meable or soft seeds start first — the seedlings quickly shade the ground 

 and the hard seeds never develop. It is probable that the many poor 

 stands of alfalfa and clover in California are due to the low germinating 

 quality of the seed. We take this opportunity to suggest again that 

 samples of all agricultural seed should be sent to the university for 

 testing before making any purchase. We know that better crops will 

 more than pay for the trouble. — 0. W. Nev^man. 



Program Forty-ninth State Fruit Growers' Convention. — The 



following is the completed program of the Forty-ninth State Fruit 

 Growers' Convention which is to be held at Napa, November 15th, 

 16th and 17th. Just a glance at the program will convince the fruit 

 groover that this convention will be one of the best ever held in the 

 state and that he can not afford to miss it. The program of the 

 convention of the State Association of the County Horticultural 

 Commissioners is also included in this issue, and to our mind is a 

 remarkably good one. 



