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NATURE STUDY REVIEW 



[8:1— Jan., 1912 



collection and identified, thus disclosing the nature of the for- 

 eign seeds in the sample. This, then, completes the purity test. 



The test for germination may now be made. A seed needs 

 proper conditions of heat, air and moisture for germination. 

 Different seeds require different conditions for best results. 

 For instance, large seeds, such as beans and peas, germinate best 

 between folds of moist canton flannel. Smaller seeds, such as 

 wheat, oats, and red clover germinate best between folds of 

 moist blotting paper, while very small seeds, such as timothy, 

 alsike, clover and red top germinate most successfully on top 

 of moist blotting paper. 



It has been found that some seeds germinate best when 

 variable temperatures are employed, but when a home germination 

 test is made the ordinary living room temperature of 68° to 

 70° F. may be used. In order to make the germination test, 

 two lots of one hundred seeds each should be counted from the 

 pure seeds after the purity test is completed. Each lot is then 

 placed either between the blotting paper or cloth or on top of 

 the blotting paper, according to the seeds to be tested. Two 

 tests of each sample are made to insure more accurate and 

 average results. After the seeds are in place ready for the 

 tests, the blotters or cloths should be placed between two ordi- 



FiG. 7. Germinating Alsike Clover at the End of Third 



Day. 



