68 CONTROL SERIES No. 92 



probably due to the fact that the impurities were of the same general size and 

 weight as the seed itself. One packet carried 17.13% and the other 10%. The 

 presence or absence of impurities may be due in some cases to the ease with which 

 the seeds can be cleaned. Thus Marigolds might be expected to contain a high 

 percentage of Inert, since much of the Inert Material is of the same shape and 

 weight as the seed itself. 



Other Crop Seed 



Many of the packets contained seeds of flowers other than the kind under 

 consideration, as well as seeds of field crops. Thirty-two, or 31.00%, contained 

 seeds of other crop plants. Two packets of Chrysanthemum ranked high in this 

 particular, with Other Crop Seed in one of them 2.07% and the other 1.65%. 

 Also one packet of Nasturtium carried 2.02%. 



The Weed Seeds and Other Crop Seeds found in the various packets may be 

 accounted for in several different ways. Since some of the "extra" seeds were 

 kinds that are not generally found growing with flower seeds in the fields, it 

 appears either that they were placed there intentionally or that they entered 

 through the repacketing process or through careless harvesting and handling 

 methods. This may also be true of the Inert Matter found. 



Germination 



No germination tests were made in the laboratory on any of the lots collected, 

 since many of the packets contained too small a quantity of seed for both field 

 and laboratory tests. Remarks on germination observed in the field test are 

 comparative and not rated on a percentage basis. After the purity tests were 

 completed the samples were turned over to Professor Clark L. Thayer of the 

 Department of Floriculture, who conducted tests in the field to determine the 

 actual quality and to check the trueness-to-type. 



Field Tests 



The occurrence of heavy rains shortly after several lots of seed were sown in 

 the field, washed out some of the seed, thus seriously affecting records of ger- 

 mination for these lots. Since there were not sufficient seeds for a second sowing, 

 the tests could not be repeated. However, in the majority of samples germina- 

 tion was satisfactory. Due to the late planting, Sweet Peas did not give good 

 results. 



When the number of seeds permitted, rows thirty feet long were sown. Ger- 

 mination was rated as "good" if the seeds germinated in approximately two 

 thirds the row; "fair" between one-third and two-thirds; "poor" for one third 

 or less. Performance was designated as "satisfactory" if the varieties were true 

 to name, producing only a low percentage of plants which were not true to form 

 or color, (one-third or less); "fair" between one-third and two-thirds not true; 

 and "unsatisfactory," if less than one-third was true to name or did not produce 

 satisfactory plants for providing sufficient data. 



As far as possible trueness-to-type was determined, but since many lots were 

 described as mixtures or did not carry varietal names, a wide range in color and 

 form was permissible. 



