GRASSES OP IOWA. 



93 



half in four days. Martin Amber, La Crosse, Wis., only seven 

 seeds germinated in four days; 78 per cent in thirty -nine days. 

 Red Clawson, N. Y., two seeds germinated in six days; six 

 seeds in eight days; after the twelve days seventeen had gem- 

 inated or 38 per cent. Missogen, Cal., none had germinated in 

 the four days; on the fifth day forty-five seeds had germinated; 

 on the sixth day seventy-seven seeds; on the seventh day ninety- 

 six seeds. 



The lowest temperature at which maize will germinate 

 according to Sturtevant is 43.7 P., for all the varieties. It is 

 probable that further trial will place the lowest temperature 

 at 42 or below, but the difficulty of keeping an unquestioned 

 record between close limits for a long period is very great. In 

 Experiment 4, Sturtevant succeeded for twenty-nine and one- 

 half days, when repairs to the water service necessitated its 

 conclusion. 



An extended series of tests made at the college the past 

 season from seed collected about Ames, and quite a number of 

 seed sent from other sources, show the following instructive 

 results. 



GERMINATION OP CORN WHEN KEPT UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS 



VARIETY. 



Yellow dent 



Calico dent 



Legal tender 



Yellow dent 



Calico 



Calico corn 



Sweet corn. . . , 



White rice pop. . . . . 



Iowa silver mine 



Stowell's evergreen. 



WHERE KEPT, 



Open crib college barn ... 

 Seed of 1895, closed crib — 



Dry room 



Shock 



Open crib 



Loft above a chicken coop 



Seed of 1896, shock 



In paper packages 



College seed room 



College seed room 



AGE. 



95 '96 



This table certainly shows that when the corn is kept prop- 

 erly there is little danger from deterioration. It is impossible 

 to judge the quality of corn by germinating early in the season 

 when the atmosphere is humid and cold. Seeds kept in damp 

 places when brought into the laboratory frequently germinate 

 well. On drying, however, these seeds soon lose their vital- 



