FOREST TREE SEED AND SEED COLLECTING 



115 



moist blotting paper. The moisture can be regulated better by 

 placing the pot in a receptacle containing water, from which the 

 moisture can reach the seed from below. Excellent results are 

 obtained by wrapping the pot with sphagnum moss which is kept 



FIG. 18. Greenhouse benches arranged for germination tests. 

 New Haven, Conn. 



moist. The water enters the soil through the porous clay of the 

 pot. As the seeds germinate they should be removed and an 

 accurate count kept of those that germinate from day to day. 



25. GERMINATION TESTS IN MEDIA OTHER THAN SOIL. 

 Sawdust, moss, blotting paper, and flannel require more attention 

 than soil in making germination tests. If the seeds become in- 

 fested with a superficial covering of mycelia, little harm is done if 

 the test does not extend beyond a period of 21 days. This period 

 is sufficiently long for the most vigorous germination of many 

 species when the seed is subjected to sufficient heat and moisture. 

 As a rule, the rapid development of fungi over the seed is an indi- 

 cation that it is old and the embryo probably dead. 



26. The Blotter Test. Heavy paper blotters serve as a useful 

 medium between which germination tests can be made. They 

 should be kept moist but not wet. They are particularly useful 



