April, 1922. 



SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE. 



263 



viability and vigor of the pollen it is neces- 

 sary to make carefully controlled labor- 

 atory tests. 



Condition of the Stigma. — When in the 

 rig-ht condition to receive the pollen, the 

 stigma has a well-rounded surface and 

 has a somewhat sliiny appearance. This 

 condition is usually seen as soon as the 

 tlower is fully opened. In choosing flow- 

 ers for the female parent, our usual 

 practice has been to select flowers some- 

 what immature rather than old flowers. 

 Experiments are under way with the ob- 

 ject of trying to determine in what stage 

 the flowers are in the best condition to 

 receive the pollen. 



Best Time of Day for Crossing- Plants. — 2 



Judging from crossings done at various 

 times in the day (ranging from early 

 morning throughout the day and in the 

 evening) we have no clear indication that 

 the success or failure at one time of the 

 day is greatly different from that of 

 another. The condition of the operator 

 seems to have more effect on the results 

 than the time of day and, other things 

 being equal, the work which is done at a 

 time of day congenial to the worker seems 

 to give the best results. 



After pollination, the flowers may be 

 suitably lU'otected by muslin cages in the 

 manner described above. When fertiliza- 

 tion has taken place, the protection should 

 be removed so as to give the plant a full 

 measure of air and sunlight, which to- 

 gether aid in the development of plump, 

 healthy, well-grown seed. 



The condition of the seed pods should l)e 

 examined from time to time through- 

 out the .summer and when thoroughly ripe 

 should be carefully collected, counted, and 

 a full record made on the sheets prepared 

 for tliis purpose. The coin envelopes in 

 which seeds are collected should also be 

 clearly marked, showing contents; then 

 the seeds may be stored in a dry and 

 moderately warm place away from mice 

 or other vermin. 



Raising Plants from Hybrid Seed. 



The .system adopted in these experi- 

 ments is as follows : — The seed is germin- 

 ated in water in open eartlienware dishes 



and, as the seeds sprout, they are picked 

 off and planted in rows in cle&n soil pre- 

 viously prepared in suitable pans ojr flat 

 boxes. In a sample of well-ripened Al- 

 falfa seed, we always find a percentage 

 of hard seeds, which do not. germinate 

 readily : these will be left behind in the 

 germinating dish. If these hard seeds are 

 properly treated with sulphuric acid so as 

 to soften tlie seed coat, a rapid germina- 

 tion may usually be obtained. 



Method of Hastening Germination of 

 Hard Seeds. 



Apparatus Required. 



1. 1 doz. clean, dry test tubes. 



2. Commercial Sulphuric Acid. 



3. Glass stirring rods. 



4. Fine strainer (a coffee strainer is suit- 



able for small lots.) 

 •5. A good supply of running water from 

 a tap; also, large pail of water. 



Method of Working-.— 1, Place the 

 hard seeds in. a dry test tube; then add 

 sufficient acid to immerse the seeds tho- 

 roughly. The seeds will float in the acid, 

 and the mixture should be stirred fre- 

 quently so as to get all seeds thoroughly 

 saturated. Allow the acia to remain on 

 the seeds for about fifteen to twenty 

 minutes, stirring frequently. 



2. Pour the acid with seeds into strain- 

 er; then dip strainer into a pail or large 

 basin of water so that the seeds are com- 

 pletely immersed. Stir the seeds in water 

 whilst tliey are in the strainer : this is to 

 wash the seeds free from acid. Any traces 

 of acid may be washed away by holding 

 strainer and seeds under running water 

 from the tap. 



The seeds may now be spread out on a 

 plate to dry : a little powdered quicklime 

 duiited on the seeds will hasten the drying, 

 also neutralize any acid which may not 

 have been completely removed in the wash- 

 ing process. These seeds may now be 

 germinated in the ordinary way. 



With very hard seeds, it sometimes 

 takes two or more treatments with acid 

 before they are induced to germinate. 



In re-treating- the seeds; before adding 

 the acid, be sure to dry the seeds thorough- 

 ly^; then repeat the operations as outlined 

 for the first treatment. By repeated treat- 

 ments, the hardest seeds can usuallv be in- 



