40 



THE SEED AND ITS NEEDS 



to guard against infection by fungi, which sometimes cause 

 the seed to mould. 



The germinating cup is a small, earthen vessel, 3 inches in 

 diameter or 3 inches square and 1| inches deep. The cup is 

 covered with a lid of the same size and shape as the top of 

 cup, in which are a number of small holes. The cup is placed 

 in a shallow pan of water and kept at a temperature of about 

 75° or 80° F. Germinating cups must be thoroughly steril- 

 ized before the seeds are placed in them. 



Fig. 8. — The dinner-plate seed tester. 



The tile germinator is a large tile 12 x 15 inches and 2 

 inches deep, in which have been molded pockets varying in 

 size from 1 inch to 3 inches in diameter. This tester is 

 placed in a shallow pan of water the same as the germinating 

 cups. Usually it is advisable to cover the top of the tester 

 with a pane of glass to prevent spores of fungi from falling 

 on the seeds and causing trouble. 



The Geneva seed tester is a galvanized iron pan 10 

 inches wide, 14 inches long and 3^ inches deep, with a 

 ledge | inch wide along the sides. The seed are held in 



UBRABY OF 

 C STATE COLLEGE 



