TESTING REEDS AT HOME. 



183 



mineral pain) In prevent rusting. Water i s poured into the "basin up to 

 about one-hal f 1 lie height of the saucer. The water will soak through 

 1he saucer and supply the seeds. For larger seeds this method is 

 slow, "since the seeds do not get water rapidly enough. 1 



A very simple apparatus is a glass or porcelain dish or tin pan 

 with a little water in the bottom, and a handful of cotton batting, 

 soaked, and placed in the dish. Put the seeds on the cotton and 

 cover the dish with a plate of glass. 



If il is desired 1<> test a number of samples in the same apparatus, 

 a convenient form is the following: Take a large dripping pan or an 

 ordinary frying pan. Paint it to prevent rusting. Put four sup- 

 ports in the pan (inverted porous saucers are good) and place a tin 

 or wire frame upon them, as shown in fig. 25. The seeds are laid 

 between folds of blotting paper or cloth, which are then placed on the 

 frame. A flap of paper or cloth hangs dow r n into the water, which 

 half fills the tray and keeps the folds moist. 



FIG. 25. Apparatus for germinating several varieties at one time. 



If glass can be had to put over the pan, evaporation will not be so 

 rapid; otherwise the water will need replenishing frequently. 



The tin or wire tray need not be expensive, and can be replaced by 

 anything the operator may have. It is only necessary that a flap 

 should dip into the water to provide moisture. 



In testing seed some trouble will be experienced from the growth 

 of mold. If the cloths and dishes are used many times, this trouble 

 will become worse unless the spores of the fungi are killed. This 

 can easily be done by boiling all cloths and washing the dishes in 

 boiling water after each test. 



In testing seeds it is necessary that there should be a standard of 

 germination with which the germination of the sample can be com- 

 pared. If the percentage of germination falls far below the standard, 

 the seed is not fit for use, and its value decreases for every per cent 



1 An improvement on the above is described in the Yearbook of 1894, p. 405. 

 Here folds of blotting paper or flannel cloth are placed in the porous saucer and 

 the seeds laid between the folds. 



