104 The Ottawa Naturalist [August 



bears out the result of tests conducted in our seed laboratory 

 with fresh seeds of cucurbits, radish and other cruciferous 

 seeds and such kinds as are known to have a relatively hard 

 seed coat , as clover seeds and others. Samples of red clover 

 and alsike seeds that are sent in for test in the fall of the year, 

 directly after they are harvested, are expected as a 

 rule to give a low percentage of germination and a high percent- 

 age of seeds that remain sound and hard. Ordinary storage 

 for a period of six months apparently breaks down the natural 

 condition of the seedcoat of clover seeds which renders them 

 difficultly pervious to water. One sample of red clover seed, 

 produced in the province of Manitoba, when submitted to the 

 usual germination test, showed only 17% of growth during the 

 first month and less than 50% at the end of three months. 

 From the original sample 50 grains were taken and artificially 

 clipped (without injuring the embryo,) in order to secure the 

 admission of water. From these 50 seeds made pervious to 

 water by artificial means, 50 plants were promptly produced, 

 when submitted to the ordinary methods of germination. 



The question of how this difficulty may be over- 

 come with commercial seeds has apparently occupied the at- 

 tention of expert seedsmen and brewers. It is well known that 

 these freshlv ripened seeds are entirely satisfactory in respect 

 to their germination after they have had a rest period of six 

 months or a vear. Radish seeds, for instance, are known to be 

 more satisfactory, from the seedsman's standpoint, when they 

 are fully one year old. It is known that some skilled seedsmen 

 are able, within a few hours, by treating their supplies of cruci- 

 ferous seeds (and other seeds which, when fresh, show delaved 

 germination) to secure as satisfactory results as by keeping them 

 over in storage for a year ; and it is believed to be a quite common 

 practice on the part of some seedsmen to kiln dry their fresh 

 stocks of such seeds for a few hours, at a temperature that is 

 not dangerous to their vitality. That is done also by brewers 

 with some lots of barley of mixed varieties, for the purpose of 

 reducing the barlev to a uniform rapidity of germination." 



L. H. N. 



Mr. Norman Criddle, who has been in Ottawa for the last 

 three months, left on the 5th August for his home at Aweme, 

 Man. Mr. Criddle has been a member of the Club for many 

 years, and during his stay he attended most of the spring ex- 

 cursions and did much to make them a success. 



