278 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The following results, giving the " Real Value," l will be found 

 in the Tables : — 



Abies balsamea (Danish seed), . . for 12 tests, min, 6 -53, max. 59 '96 

 ,, pectinata (German seed), . . for 10 ,, ,, 5"68, ,, 68-16 



But a division into two periods, as mentioned above, gives the 

 following figures for Real Value : — 



Abies balsamea, for 5 tests, 1887-1888 to 1891-1892, min. 6-53, max. 58"3 



for 7 ,, 1892-1893 to 1S99-1900, ,, 24-6, ,, 59'96 



., pectinata, for 4 ,, 1887-1888 to 1891-1892, „ 5-68, ,, 50-60 



,, for 6 ,, 1892-1893 to 1899-1900, ,, IS'4, ,, 68-16 



Now, everybody knows that there may be great difference in 

 the percentage of germination of the Abies species in different 

 years, even when absolutely fresh seed is in question. But we 

 also know that this world is not nearly as good as it ought to be, 

 and it therefore happens in years when seed is scarce, that old 

 seed is put on the market, and very often at doubled prices, and 

 I dare say all will agree with me that it is then very useful, by 

 the assistance of the testing establishments, quickly to have this 

 substantiated. This progress in the improvement of Real Value 

 is proved by many species, of which I shall only mention a few 

 of the most important : — 



Pimcs montana uncinata (Danish seed), 6 tests, 1887-1888 to 1891-1892, 

 min. 54'49, max. 95 "9. 

 (Danish seed), 22 tests, 1892-1893 to 1899-1900, 

 min. 63-20, max. 96-0. 

 ,, sylvestris (Finnish seed), 5 tests, 1887-1888 to 1891-1892, min. 38-5, 

 max. 88 "7. 

 (Finnish seed), 12 tests, 1892-1893 to 1899-1900, min. 50-2, 

 max. 92-8. 

 ,, „ (Scotch seed), 3 tests, 1887-1888 to 1891-1892, min. 41-1, 



max. 95 "6. 

 (Scotch seed), 8 tests, 1892-1893 to 1899-1900, min. 62-8, 

 max. 92-1. 

 Picea excelsa (Finnish seed), 3 tests, 1887-1888 to 1891-1892, min. 65-35, 

 max. 92'1. 

 ,, ,, (Finnish seed), 2 test", 1892-1893 to 1899-1900, min. 96-6, 

 max. 97'71. 

 (Swedish seed), 7 tests, 18S7-1888 to 1891-1892, min. 7333, 



max. 97 61. 

 (Swedish seed), 5 tests, 1892-1893 to 1899-1900, min. 86-6, 

 max. 96 "5. 



On the other hand, no improvement is to be found in the 

 germination of the German spruce seed, but rather a little decline. 



1 "Real value" means the number of pure and germinating seeds in 100. 

 Thus, if a sample showed percentage of germination 90, and percentage of 



80 x 90 

 purity SO, the real value would be =72, in other words, each 100 lbs. 



of seed contain 72 lbs. that are both pure and capable of germinating. 



