Periodical Literature. 329 



it is stated as a result of many years of observation that 

 originally, excluding blind seeds, there is 90 per cent, of good seed 

 found in the cones. Various causes bring about deterioration; 

 the same cause which destroys the viability of some of the seeds 

 also decreases the vitality of the others, but not all in the same pro- 

 portion ; at any time some have lost their germinative power alto- 

 gether, some can still push forth a germ, without forming normal 

 roots, still others are sound but germinate only slowly, and only 

 a portion have remained undamaged, undiscovered individual dif- 

 ferences rendering these more resistant to baneful influences. 



As regards the question whether the use of mixed seed, i. e., 

 seed with high and low germination to secure an average, is justi- 

 fied, finds answer in the upward turn of the plant per cent, curve : 

 the plant per cent, of mixed seed is never lower than that of un- 

 mixed seed of same germination per cent. The equation to secure a 

 mixture of c per cent, germination from seed of a and b per cent, is 



ad c c — b , 



x \-y =100 ,or^r = , ioo, and y = 100 — x. 



100 100 100 a — 



To secure, therefore, 85 per cent, seed from a mixture of 65 and 95 

 per cent, seed there are needed 33.3 parts of the first and 66.6 parts 

 of the second ; or, if 95 per cent, seed is to be mixed with o per 

 cent, seed, 89.5 parts of the first and 10.5 of the latter are needed. 

 Now while unmixed 85 per cent, seed shows an average plant per 

 cent of 31, the two mixtures yield 34 and 39 per cent respectively. 

 The impropriety of relying merely on the germination per cent, as 

 regulator of price is apparent. If a seed dealer had two parcels of 

 seed, one of 65 per cent., the other of 95 per cent, germination, the 

 buyers would object to the first as too low, but would not be will- 

 ing to pay its true value, or more than for an 80 per cent, seed, the 

 average quality The seed dealer is, therefore, justified in mixing, 

 and even to add per cent, seed to a 95 per cent, seed, whereby he 

 even improves the corresponding plant per cent. 



If the plant per cent, were used in price making, the following 

 differences would appear. Taking an 85 per cent, seed as of nor- 

 mal quality at the cost of I, then the value under (I) favorable, 

 (II) unfavorable and (III) average conditions is: 



