70 THE VITALITY AND GERMINATION OF SEEDS. 



of this series of experiments was to demonstrate the relative value of 

 different packages as a means of putting up seeds. 



In Table XXVII it will be observed that the results obtained from 

 the waterproof and parchment paper envelopes have been omitted. 

 These omissions have been made because the results were practically 

 identical with those of the ordinary seedsmen's packets; but the com- 

 parisons to be made between the ordinary paper packets and the 

 paraffined packages are worthy of consideration. The envelopes that 

 were paraffined after being filled with seed gave the best results. 

 This difference, however, was due not to the special treatment but 

 to the higher melting point of the paraffin. The average percentages 

 of germination of the three samples of seed kept under trade con- 

 ditions in the three localities were 59.39 per cent for the envelopes 

 previously paraffined, 62.94 per cent for the envelopes dipped in 

 paraffin after being filled with seed, and 49.44 per cent for the seeds- 

 men's envelopes. In dry rooms the results were 61.11, 65.66, and 

 49.22 per cent, respectively. These averages were somewhat higher 

 than the true conditions of Baton Rouge and Mobile warrant, as the 

 results of the germination tests from all of the packages retained at 

 Ann Arbor showed but little variation. Taking the three samples of 

 seed which were stored under trade conditions in Mobile, the average 

 percentage of germination was 24.2 for the seed from the nonparaffined 

 package and 45. 5 percent for the seed from the paraffined package, show- 

 ing a loss in vitality of 77.3 and 49.5 per cent, respectively, considering 

 the germination of the Ann Arbor sample as a standard. At Baton Rouge 

 the results were slightly better; the average percentages of germination 

 were 32.2 for the seeds from the nonparaffined and 53.5 per cent for 

 the seeds from the paraffined packages, representing a loss in vitality 

 of 65 and 40.5 per cent, respectively. While in either case the loss 

 was very great, still the advantages of the paraffined packages are 

 worthy of consideration for the reason that a prolongation of life for 

 only a few weeks is frequently of the greatest importance, particularly 

 in districts where much fall planting is done. 



In this connection may be given the results of some other tests, 

 which really were a part of this same experiment, but included only 

 onion seed. This seed was put up in seedsmen's envelopes and in 

 paraffined envelopes like those previously described. In addition, 

 seed was also put up in small bottles, which were corked. These 

 packages were kept in a small box within a suit case carried on two 

 trips across the Atlantic and on a tour through Central Europe, thus 

 subjecting them to very variable conditions. Germination tests 

 gave the following results: Seed from the ordinary packages, 77 per 

 cent; paraffined envelopes, 90 per cent; bottles, 91 per cent. 



To test more thoroughly the keeping qualities of seeds in paraffined 

 packages and in bottles, another series of experiments was begun on 

 December 20, 1901. For these tests only cabbage and onion seeds 



