FURTHER NOTES ON TREE SEED-TESTING. 407 



XXX. Further Notes on Tree Seed-Testing, 1900-01. By 

 Johannes Rafn, Skovfrokontoret, Copenhagen, Denmark. 



In last year's issue of the Transactions of this Society, I had 

 the honour to publish a series of experiments with the germina- 

 tion of tree seeds ; and, as I have reason to believe that these 

 have attracted some attention in interested circles, I have thought 

 that the results of some further experiments might possibly be 

 kindly received this year. I am the more anxious that they 

 should appear, because the germination tests of the past season 

 on one point, viz., the quickness with which the seed germinates 

 when it is good, and the consequent promptitude with which the 

 testing establishments are able to give reliable figures for the 

 valuation of the seed in question, have been exceptionally 

 instructive. 



Looking at Larix, for instance, it will be clear to everyone 

 that it is possible, even in ten days, to make a sure estimate of 

 the value of the seed; for no professional man will for a moment 

 doubt chat L. leptolepis, which has only germinated 1 per cent, in 

 ten days, is quite worthless. 



It is very disheartening to those engaged in experimenting 

 with foreign treas, a subject which at the present moment is 

 receiving much attention in Europe, that we year after year 

 receive shipments of seed from Japan which, after being paid 

 for at a high rate on receipt, afterwards turn out to be quite 

 worthless. It is by no means pleasant to have to throw some 

 sacks of seed on the rubbish-heap, when the value is 10s. per lb. 

 if it was sold. 



According to information received from the Swiss seed- testing- 

 establishment at Zurich, they have in the season 1900-01 had 

 eight samples of Japanese larch for testing, and they have ger- 

 minated 12, 2, 9, 2, 1, 2, 27, and 11 per cent, respectively — only 

 one of them, the 27 per cent, one, being good ; and that sample 

 germinated 11 per cent, in ten days and 25 per cent, in fifteen 

 days, while the 12 per cent, sample had not germinated 10 per 

 cent, till the twentieth day. 



Also the Japanese seed of Chamcacyparis obtusa was perfectly 

 worthless last season, germinating only 1 per cent, in thirty days. 

 This siei germinated, in t'ae seasoa 1899-1900, 19*35 per cent., as 

 stated by me in last year's Part of the Transactions, at page 281 

 of this volume. What remained of this was again tested this 



