GERMINATION OF SEED AS AFFECTED BY SULFURIC ACID TREATMENT 317 



to 86 per cent for the i5-minute acid treatment, where the maximum was 

 obtained. The alsike clover seed was likewise increased from 86 per 

 cent to 93 per cent. The germination of the Japan clover seed was 

 increased from 74.5 per cent in the check to 89 per cent by the 6o-minute 

 acid treatment, where the maximum germination was attained. 



ALFALFA SEED 



The action of concentrated sulfuric acid (sp. gr. 1.84) on the germina- 

 tion of alfalfa seed has been determined on three different lots. The 

 results obtained are given in Table 13. The germination of the check 

 of Lot 29988 was 52.5 per cent. By a i5-minute acid treatment the 

 maximum was obtained, the germination being raised to 90 per cent. 

 Treatments for 60 minutes or longer injured the seed coats of the seed 

 in this lot. The germination of the check of Lot 29986 was 56.5 per 

 cent, which was raised to 99 per cent and 98.5 per cent by 15- and 60- 

 minute treatments, respectively. The seed coats did not here appear 

 to be injured by the 6o-minute treatment, although injury was done by 

 the i2o-minute treatment. It appears that these two lots of seed have 

 different powers of resistance to the action of acid. A reason for this 

 may be found in the column headed " Seeds remaining apparently alive," 

 where the numbers of seeds coming through a 17 -day test in the germina- 

 tor without germinating or decaying are given. It is seen that an average 

 of 31 per cent remained in Lot 29988 and 37 per cent in Lot 29986. These 

 lots of seed were tested by the Seed Laboratory of the United States 

 Department of Agriculture, with the results that Lot 29988 gave a germi- 

 nation of 50.5 per cent, with 41 per cent hard seed; and Lot 29986 gave a 

 germination of 43 per cent, with 53.5 percent hard seed. These results 

 coincide with the greater resistance shown by Lot 29986 to the action 

 of acid. 



The third lot of alfalfa seed reported on in this table was at least three 

 years old and was of poor quality, containing much shriveled and inferior 

 seed. The check here gave an average germination of 24.5 per cent, 

 while the results for the 6o-minute treatment were 30 per cent. The 

 seed coats were injured by longer treatment. 



SWEET CLOVER 



In some parts of the United States sweet clover (Melilotus alba) is or 

 promises to become an important crop, furnishing pasture and hay for 

 stock-feeding and also being grown to enrich the soil. The seed is often 

 difficult to germinate, however, and a large part usually fails to grow at 

 all in dry seasons or in regions of light rainfall. This prevents as wide a 

 use of the crop as it might otherwise have. A method, therefore, of 



