10 



SEEDAGE. 



the seed is its capability to produce crop. This notion of 

 seed-tests is obviously fallacious, although the statement 

 upon which it is based is true. In other words, actual plant- 

 ing rarely gives a true measure of the capabilities of all the 

 seeds of any sample, because of the impossibility to control 

 conditions and methods in the field. The object of seed- 

 tests is to determine how many seeds are viable, and what 

 is their relative vigor ; if planting shows poorer results, be- 

 cause of covering too deep or too shallow, by exposing to 

 great extremes of temperature or moisture, or a score of 

 other untoward conditions, the sample cannot be held to 

 account for the shortcoming. The following table indicates 

 the extent of variations which may be expected between 

 tests and actual plantings of seeds from the same samples : 

 "Various samples were tested indoors and actually 

 planted in the field. The seeds were sown in the field June 

 5, and the last notes were taken from them July 5. They 

 were sown on a gravelly knoll. Rain fell about every alter- 

 nate day, and the soil was in good condition for germina- 

 tion throughout the month. The indoor tests were made in 

 loose potting earth, or in sand in seed-pans. 



