SEVENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART V. 195 



take far more than 1 per cent from the value of the sample. The impor- 

 tant point is that the value of clover seed should be judged, not by the 

 price per bushel, but by its price per pound or bushel of pure and ger- 

 minable seed. 



We have found in our own investigation that seeds sent to us last 

 spring from various parts of the State showed a very low degree of 

 vitality. 



COMPARATIVE VALUE OF PLUMP SEEDS IN SPRING AND FALL. 



March, 1906. November, 1906. 



Alfalfa 56.91 15 



Alsike clover 66.34 35.6 



Red clover 79.8 48.2 



COMPARATIVE VITALITY OF PLUMP AND SHRUNKEN SEEDS. 



March, 1906— Plump. Shrunken. 



Alfalfa 56.91 24.16 



Alsike 66.34 28.92 



Red clover 79.8 30.9 



November, 1906 — . Plump. Shrunken. 



Alfalfa 20 10 



Alsike 35.6 10.8 



Red clover 48.6 25.2 



This table, made up from the germination studies of thirty-five sam- 

 ples of red clover seed, shows that 20.2 per cent of the seed would not 

 germinate under the best of conditions — alfalfa, still greater; and the 

 same was true of alsike. The farmer paid $1.30 too much for every 

 bushel of clover seed purchased where it had such a low vitality. Good 

 clover seed should germinate from 93 to 95 per cent, and the average test 

 shows only 79.8 per cent. The shrunken seed was immature, and also 

 showed a low vitality. Much of the clover seed tested by us was un- 

 doubtedly adulterated. The shrunken seed is frequently mixed with old 

 seed. An honest dealer would not mix his old seed with the new, but 

 there are unscrupulous men in this line of business, as in others. I have 

 known of seed merchants buying old millet and old clover seed. 



The farmers of Iowa are, however, paying for poor seed. We may ask, 

 should not the farmers have some legislation to remedy this state of 

 affairs? We need better seed. The farmer does no want to introduce 

 the Canada thistle, dodder, quack grass, ribplantain, in clover seed, and 

 he wants his seed to germinate. ' Prof. L. H. Pamjiel. 



