1897.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT— No. 33. 55 



Seed Testing. 



Complaints having been frequently received affecting the 

 germinating qualities of seeds and vegetables and their purity, 

 coupled with requests for examination and testing of the same, 

 an extended investigation was undertaken of seeds of stand- 

 ard varieties from prominent dealers in difterent sections of 

 the country. In all, 367 ditlerent packages of seeds were 

 tested, each variety involving four distinct tests. These were 

 obtained from seven of the leading seed dealers, as follows : 

 4 from Massachusetts, 1 from New York City, 1 from Phila- 

 delphia, Pa., and 1 from Detroit, Mich. The number of 

 varieties tested was : beets, 4 (28 packages) ;* calibage, 5 

 (35 packages) ; cauliflower, 3 (21 packages) ; celery, 5 (30 

 packages) ; cucumbers, 4 (28 packages) ; lettuce, 7 (27 

 packages) ; melons, 5 (23 packages) ; onions, 5 (30 pack- 

 ages) ; parsnips, 9 (18 packages) ; peas, 4 (28 packages) ; 

 radishes, 6 (24 packages) ; spinach, 8 (19 packages) ; 

 squashes, 4 (28 packages) ; tomatoes, 4 (28 packages). 



These seeds were first tested for their germinating quali- 

 ties by two different methods under glass. These were also 

 noted when planted in the field, and careful observations 

 made and recorded from time to time as to vigor of growth. 

 At the end of the season the characteristics of foliao:e and 

 products were carefully determined, and the crop of each 

 strain weighed. Each kind of vegetable was planted in soil 

 best suited to its growth, and the seeds from each dealer 

 given the same treatment in every way. 



Results. 



We are glad to report that with one or two exceptions the 

 vitality (germinating qualities) of the seeds was very satis- 

 factory, about the same per cent, of seeds of each kind from 

 the different dealers germinating, and the products were gen- 

 erally uniform in outline and markings. The varieties sold 

 by the different dealers under the same name generally proved 

 to possess the same characteristics. 



* The same varieties, from 7 different dealers. 



