1907.] 



PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 



159 



The following table gives a condensed statement of tlic 

 work done by this department on seeds dnring the year : — 



Ficconls of Seed Work for 1906. 



The average percentage of germination of onion seed was 

 79.5 ; of sweet corn, 71.9 ; and the highest percentage of onion 

 seed germination w^as 100, while the same percentage was 

 obtained with samples of sweet corn. The lowest percentage 

 of germination of onion was 28 ; that of sw^eet corn, 25. In 

 practically all cases 200 seeds were employed in each test, and 

 smaller numbers were nsed only when the number of seeds 

 sent in was less. Occasionally more than one test was made, 

 and the average in such cases was taken. The onion seeds 

 tested dnring 1906 were particularly good, being much better 

 than those we have tested during previous years. Both onion 

 and tobacco seed were separated by air. Only 2 per cent, 

 of seed was discarded by the process of air separation from 

 the best tobacco seed sent in, while from the poorest samples 

 37 per cent, was discarded. In the case of the best onion seed, 

 8 per cent, was discarded by the use of a winnowing machine, 

 while only 20 per cent, was discarded from the poorest sam- 

 ples of onion seeds. 



Prevalence of Funcu, etc. 

 One of the peculiarities of the difPerent seasons is that no 

 two are alike as regards the prevalence of certain pathogenic 

 fungi. The potato has been comparatively free from disease 

 during the past season ; but there was more or less trouble 

 with celery, particularly in tho summer, when there was a 



