Nov. 26, 1921 Storage of Coniferous Tree Seed 483 



CONDITIONS OF STORAGE 



Another point on which it was hoped this study would throw some 

 light was the eflfect of several conditions of temperature on seed in stor- 

 age. At each of the geographical points mentioned, accordingly, the 

 cooperators in the study were requested to store the seed where each of 

 the following conditions of temperature would prevail : 



1. Ordinary indoor temperature, such as an office shelf where the 

 temperature would always be above the freezing point. 



2. Fluctuating temperature, as in an outbuilding or unheated garret 

 where the temperature would follow rather closely the actual outdoor 

 variations. Proximity to a stable was to be avoided. 



3. Fairly uniform low temperature, such as prevails in an unheated 

 basement or cellar. 



To just what extent these conditions obtained and were entirely 

 comparable at all points of storage, it is not possible to say. It would 

 not be surprising if there were considerable differences, particularly in 

 the low-temperature conditions. It is believed, however, that they were 

 similar enough to warrant the drawing of general conclusions from the 

 tests. 



PERIOD COVERED BY STUDY 



The study was planned to cover a period of approximately five years. 

 The seed was sent to the 13 points of storage during March, 1909. In 

 January, 19 10, and again in January, 191 1, 19 12, and 19 14, three test 

 sets (one stored at each of the three temperature conditions) were for- 

 warded by express from each of the storage points to Washington, 

 D. C, for testing. 



It is thus seen that tests were carried on after the seed had been in 

 storage for periods of approximately one, two, three, and five years. 

 There was no test of seed in storage for four years. From a practical 

 standpoint, at least, it seemed that tests covering a period of five years 

 would be sufficient. It is unhkely that seed in commercial quantities 

 at least will be stored for a longer time. As a matter of interest, how- 

 ever, a few of the seeds which had been stored in bottles were carried 

 over for another five years and tested during the year 19 19. This 

 phase of the study will be taken up in more detail later (p. 510). 



SEED-TESTING OPERATION 



The seed-testing operation was a simple but rather large undertaking. 

 There were carried on during each of the four years 195 tests for each 

 of the six species. Two hundred seeds were used in each test. Ordi- 

 nary greenhouse wooden flats about 14 by 18 by 4 inches in depth were 

 nearly filled with fresh sand, which was compacted and smoothed off; 

 the seed for each test was scattered uniformly over the surface, pressed 

 into the sand by means of a board, and then covered with yi inch to 

 % inch of sand. The flats were then set on greenhouse benches where 

 the sand was kept moist during the course of germination by sprinkling 

 it with an ordinary watering pot equipped with a fine rose or spraying 

 nozzle. The seeds were protected from mice by covering the flats with 

 frames made of fly screen. Ants were troublesome at first, but they 

 were successfully combatted by scattering napthalene flakes on the 

 benches. During the winter and spring months when artificial heat was 

 employed in the greenhouse, the temperature sought was about 70° F. 



75308—22 3 



