24 CONTROL SERIES NO. 139 



Service Samples 



Certain kinds of vegetable seeds are known to retain their ability to germinate 

 and to produce normal seedlings much longer than other kinds. It is also known 

 that all kinds of seeds if not stored properly may lose their power to germinate in 

 a comparatively short time. However, there is no reliable index by which to 

 judge in every instance how long any one kind of seed will stand up in correct 

 storage and certainly not under the unfavorable conditions most often found in 

 the average retail establishment. For this reason it is necessary for every seeds- 

 man to test or have tested for him the various kinds of seed which have been 

 carried in stock from one season to another in order that carry-over seed may 

 be offered for sale in compliance with requirements of the seed law. 



In order to illustrate the effect of age, unfavorable storage, or whatever other 

 causes contribute to the loss of vitality of seeds in the average retail establish- 

 ment, the following table has been prepared. The data are drawn from germina- 

 tion tests made for 3898 service samples consisting of 24 kinds of vegetable seeds, 

 all received after the 1947 sales season and assumed to represent carry-over stock. 

 The number of samples of each kind of seed received and the number and per- 

 centage of each both above and below standard are tabulated. 



As may be expected, because they are known to retain their viability for from 

 one to two years only, parsnip with 60 percent and onion with 57.66 percent 

 below standard have the poorest record. Cabbage, which shows 38.89 percent 

 below standard is rated at frojn four to six years longevity. It may be assumed 

 that seedsmen have placed too much dependence on longevity tables, have 

 purchased too large a stock of this kind of seed and, without taking into considera- 

 tion elTect of storage, niay have carried this seed for several seasons, thus account- 

 ing for the large percentage of saniples found below standard. 



Whatever reasons may account for the very high percentages of various kinds 

 of seed which were found below standard, the evidence conclusively points out 

 the necessity of testing all carry-over seed before offering it for sale the follow- 

 ing season. 



Table 5. — Service Samples 



No. Samples Found Above Found Below % Above % Below 

 Received Standard Standard Standard Standard 



Beans, Lima 116 74 42 63.80 36.20 



Beans, Other Varieties 816 679 137 83.21 16.79 



Beets 197 177 20 89.85 10.15 



Cabbage 198 121 77 61.11 38.89 



Carrot 227 208 19 91.63 8.37 



Celery 30 22 8 73.33 26.67 



Chard, Swiss 77 73 4 94.80 6.20 



Corn. Sweet 305 263 42 86.23 13.77 



Cucumber 168 142 26 84.52 15.48 



Endive 25 20 5 80.00 20.00 



Lettuce 166 111 55 66.87 33.13 



Muskmelon 53 49 4 92.45 7.55 



Onion Ill 47 64 42.34 57.66 



Parsnip 35 14 21 40.00 60.00 



Peas 480 372 108 77.50 22.50 



Pepper 51 44 7 86.28 13.72 



Radish 114 104 10 91.23 8.77 



Rutabaga 63 58 5 92.07 7.93 



Spinach, Common 99 71 28 71.72 28.28 



Spinach. New Zealand 37 36 1 97.30 2.70 



Squash 258 206 52 79.85 20.15 



Tomato 123 113 10 91.87 8.13 



Turnip 114 95 19 83.33 16.67 



Watermelon 35 33 2 94.29 5.71 



Totals 3898 3132 766 



Averages 80.35 19.65 



