330 Forestry Quarterly. 



If, therefore, 85 per cent, seed is worth $1.00, one could afford 

 to pay 30 to 70 cents more for 95 per cent. seed. 



To secure the same number of plants one would have to sow, 

 under average conditions, to secure a sowing of same density : 



Germination per cent. : 65 75 85 95 



4.8 3.8 2.2 .1.5 lbs. 



The policy of using the very best seed material, especially on 

 poor sites, is strongly argued. 



Besides germination per cent., germinative energy needs to be 

 considered, /'. e., the rapidity of germination within a limited time, 

 e. g. for pine ten days. The author's tests exhibit a striking simi- 

 larity of the progress of germinative energy with that of the plant 

 per cent., leading to the conclusion that only the rapidly germinat- 

 ing grains furnish the plants in open sowings, and that the 

 germinative energy rather than the germination per cent, is the 

 important factor ; a seed test of ten to fourteen days should 

 settle the judgment on seed quality. Proper conditions for testing 

 are, to be sure, essential. The author, having made over 3,000 

 tests, finds it best, if the seed, lying on filter paper or flannel, 

 secures its moisture by capillary action from water located under 

 the paper 3cm, under the flannel \\cm. No special apparatus is 

 needed, a deep plate suffices, and if paper is used a glass 

 cover. A very simple apparatus may be made of a tin tray, 3 

 inches deep, with ledges on two side walls, across which movable 

 bridges punctured with holes can be placed on which the flannel 

 or paper is placed, and a window glass over all. Contrary to 

 former beliefs darkness is not required, indeed undesirable, but 

 uniform temperature essential. 



The author, who has been in charge of a seed-extracting estab- 

 lishment of more than $20,000 capacity, then discusses the pro- 

 priety and method of securing best seeds. The gathering of only 

 ripe cones, and the regulating of the heat in getting the seeds out 

 are first requirements. The author recommends domestic seed as 

 superior to imported, whose origin is not known. Next comes 

 the keeping of the seed, which when refusing to use imported seed, 

 needs to be done for a number of years between seed years. 



The conditions most favorable for keeping seed germinative 

 were investigated in a long series of experiments, detailed in 

 tables and germination curves. The present practice of storing 



