110 



GRASSES OF IOWA. 

 TABLE NO. XI. 



Some seedsmen having claimed that the low vitality of blue 

 grass seed was due to the grass being cut too green and the 

 consequent heating of the seed, tests were made to determine 

 this fact. Three lots of grass were gathered green and dried 

 in as many different ways: one in a cellar, one on the floor in 

 a dry room, and one in a grain sack. After a germinating test 

 lasting about sixty-eight days, they gave vitality percentages 

 of 71.6, 72.5 and 72.8 respectively, while a sample gathered 

 ripe and dried on the floor in a dry room gave 80. 1 per cent of 

 viable seed. These figures are given at the bottom of the pre- 

 ceding table. From such results it would seem apparent that 

 for some reason the apparatus for testing seeds does not show 

 the true vitality of blue grass seed as determined by soil tests, 

 and also that careful harvesting and drying of the seed would 

 greatly improve its quality. 



Bed top. Agrostis alba. — The following table will show the 

 compirative vitality of red top seed in this country, based on 

 a larere number of tests. 



