GERMINATION OF SEEDS. 209 



seeds, their specific gravity, their weight per bushel, detection 

 of dyeing, bleaching, oiling, etc. 



The apparatus needed is very simple, consisting of a small 

 magnifying glass, some sieves of various grades, bellows, forceps, 

 delicate scales, thermometers, jars, test-plates, chemical tests, 

 and a good knowledge of botany. Some genuine seeds of the 

 common weeds and grasses are useful for comparison. 



The sample should be carefully and fairly drawn from the 

 whole, and well mixed. As a general thing for convenience, 50 

 or 100 seeds or multiples of these numbers are counted out. 

 They may be placed between layers of moist flannel or thick 

 woolen paper, and kept in a temperature of 50 to 60 degrees 

 F. A dish of damp sand, with a paper or cloth on top to hold 

 the seeds, over which is another cloth, is a very satisfactory 

 arrangement. 



What kind will usually Germinate and what will not. 

 Seeds of the commonest grasses, such as Timothy, orchard grass, 

 June grass, red top, and the common clovers, are generally very 

 good, containing from two to twenty per cent, of impurities, 

 which consist mostly of dirt, straw and chaff. 



The seeds of the less common grasses, such as perennial rye 

 grass, the fescues, meadow foxtail, oat grass, crested dog's tail, 

 sweet vernal possess a very low vitality, almost without exception. 

 These are mostly imported from Europe. 



In 1877, the writer tested grass seeds purchased of one of the 

 bess known seedsmen of New York. Four lots of 50 seeds each 

 were tested, with the following results given in per cent. In 

 each case what appeared to be a seed Avas tested. Most of these 

 were in the chaff: 



Hard fescue, 13 per cent. Red-top, 14 per cent. 



Rhode Island bent, 7 per cent. June grass, 3 per cent. 



English rye-grass, f> per cent. Reed canary grass, 3 per cent. 



Rough-stalked meadow, 2 per cent. Meadow foxtail, 4 per cent. 



Schroder's Bromus, 60 per cent. Sheep's fescue, 1 per cent. 



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