Dormant Period of Timothy Seed. Zio, 
after harvesting the individual heads had practically reached their 
maximum percent, averaging 98.2%, while the mass selections had 
reached a satisfactory germinating pereentage—88% (U.S. Gov. stand- 
ard being 85-90 percent). (Yr. Bk. U.S. D. A. 1896, p. 623.) 
2. Alternate drying and wetting increases the germinating’ percent- 
age. However, where seed was kept wet throughout the period no 
further germination took place in the hard seeds. 
3. The testing of the five individual heads showed that there is some 
variation in the germinating quality of the single heads, as illustrated 
by head No. 4 in the test. 
4. The individual heads reached a higher percentage of germination 
than the mass selections. Possibly this was due to the fact that in 
individual heads the seed remained attached to the spikes until shelled 
off for testing, while in the case of mass selections the seed was shelled 
off of the spikes as soon as harvested. The first condition is the one 
which would prevail under farm practice. 
5. Seed alternately wetted and dried will eventually reach a high 
percentage of germination. 
6. It seems reasonable to conclude from the data obtained that be- 
tween three and four weeks from the time of harvesting is necessary 
for timothy seed to reach its maximum germinating power. 
7. If timothy seed which has been harvested and threshed before it 
has reached its maximum germinating power is kept from heating and 
sown at once it would eventually give a fair stand of plants. 
BIBLIOGRAPHY. 
Fihling’s Landwirthschaftliche Zeitung, March 15, 1894. 
