^4 GRASSES OP IOWA. 



ity in a few months. In our experiments the seeds were kept 

 in a dry room and kept under the same conditions. 



A number of experiment stations have tested the vitality of 

 corn seed and from the results the following is gleaned. 

 Saunders* states that out of eleven tests the highest percent- 

 age was 100, the average 76 down to 63. Corn tested, two 

 varieties, maximum 77, minimum 70, average vitality 78.5. A. 

 J. Pietersf states that in Egyptian sweet corn the germination 

 was 76 whereas it should have been 92.5. 



A. BurgersteinJ who conducted some experiments testing 

 the 10 years old seed of cereal arrives at the following con- 

 clusions. Barley retains its vitality better than other seeds. 

 Seeds of this cereal 8 to 10 years old are not especially 

 different than that of from 2 to 7 years old. Oats are nearly as 

 good. In the case of wheat 90 to 100 per cent germinated in 

 from 1 to 4 years; in 5 to 7 years, 85 to 87 per cent; 8 to 10 

 years, 70 to 80 per cent. The number of wheat seeds capable 

 of germinating diminished 20 to 30 per cent in a single decade. 

 In the case of rye the percentage of germination in 5 years 

 dropped to 65 p&r cent; 7 years, 36 per cent; 9 years, 13 per 

 cent; 10 years, 1 to 2 per cent. Rye had practically lost its 

 germination in ten years. 



The results of some experiments made with wheat at the 

 Iowa experiment stations^ indicate that some of the cross-bred 

 wheats s on lose their vitality. 



Regermination. — It has been a common belief among many 

 farmers, as well as others, that certain seeds were capable of 

 germinating more than once. Mr. C. H. Andric|| states that 

 he observed the regermination of wheat. This fact has been 

 likewise observed for corn, oats and rye. The question is 

 therefore of general interest; we have in this cunnection sum- 

 marized the work of several experimenters as well as some 

 original work done at this station several years ago. Professor 

 Ooff^i has done some rather interesting work in connection 

 with corn. He sprouted the seeds in apparatus and then 

 removed to a warm dry place where they were allowed to 



*Oanada Experimental Farms. Appendix to the Report of the Minister of Agrl. 

 1892: 40-42. 



tYear Book 0. S. Depart. A.grl. 1895; 176. 



?Naturw. Rundschau. 1896:83. Verhandl. geo. hot. Gesells. Wlen. 45: 414. Abst. 

 Bledermann's Cent. Bl. Agrlliulturch. 25: 637. 



gPammel. Proc. Soc. Prom. Agrl. Sci. 1898: 194. 



II Wallace's Farmer and Dairyman. 1897: 150. 



TAnn. Rep. ol the Board of Control, N. Y. Exp. Sta. 2: 65, 1883. 



