16 FLAX CULTURE AND PREPARATION 



the simultaneous testing of several and various lots of seeds 

 is fully illustrated at Figs. 9 and 10. 



Fig. 9 shows a sectional elevation and Fig. 10 a plan of 

 same. The letters in each diagram refer to corresponding 

 details. 



A is a rectangular zinc trough, designed to hold the water, B. 

 A series of moderately thick glass covers C are adjustably 

 placed over the open part of the trough and a small space D 

 is left between the adjacent glass covers. A series of circular 

 felt cloths E, preferably white, are placed over the contiguous 

 covers marked C. To each piece of felt, two cotton, woollen, 

 or other soft cords are attached and suspended into contact 

 with the water in the trough A. These cords are characterized 

 by their natural affinity for absorbing moisture and conveying 

 it to the felt cloth by which means the latter is kept moist. 



Fixed underneath the trough is a gas ring F which, when 

 lighted, warms the water B and accelerates the germination 

 of the seed to be tested. As in Method I, for each test, 100 

 seeds are chosen indiscriminately from the bulk and placed 

 on the moist surface of any given felt disc. Simple inspection, 

 later, will give the percentage of germination. 



15. Testing Flax Seed for Weight. METHOD I. The bushel 

 measure should be naturally filled to overflowing from the heap 

 of air -dry flax seed by means of a shovel, and then a flat rule 

 should be freely drawn across the top so as to remove the excess 

 seed. Flax seed should not be poured directly from a bag 

 into the bushel measure as this method presses the seed more 

 closely together. 



METHOD II. The 1,000 pickles of flax seed, when counted 

 off, should be weighed on a sensitive lever or other simple 

 balance, not necessarily expensive. 



As the metric system obtains on the Continent the weight 

 of the seed is expressed in grammes, though grain weights 

 may be used if these only are available. There are 7,000 

 grains in 1 Ib. avoirdupois and 15-432 grains or approximately 

 15| grains in 1 gramme. 



