1908.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 123 



The average germination of onion seed for 1907 was 86 per 

 cent., and that of the preceding year 79 per cent., showing a 

 better grade of seed for 1907 than 1906, so far as its germinat- 

 ing capacity is concerned. Some of the corn sent in did not 

 germinate with repeated tests, which was apparently due to the 

 immaturity of the seed. 



The miscellaneous seeds in this list consist largely of flower 

 and vegetable seeds. Some white pine seeds were tested, the 

 per cent, of germination being 59, while frequently white pine 

 seeds do not give more than 33 per cent, of germination. 



Only 4 per cent, was discarded from the best tobacco seed 

 by the process of air separation, while from the poorest sample 

 33 per cent, was discarded. At the present time most tobacco 

 men grow their own seed, selecting carefully those plants rep- 

 resenting the best types of tobacco ; consequently, the seeds 

 which are sent to us contain considerable chafl*, which is blown 

 out and included in the percentage of discarded seed. By this 

 process of selection a more uniform type of tobacco is obtained 

 and improvements in the crop rendered possible. 



In the case of the best onion seed 1 . 6 per cent, was discarded 

 by the use of the winnowing machine and 43.3 per cent, from 

 the poorest sample. 



The separation of tobacco and onion seed is quite generally 

 acknowledged to be a wise course, and it is being practised ex- 

 tensively among growers in the Connecticut valley. In our 

 opinion, this discarding of the inferior seed should be given 

 more attention. 



Seed to be tested or separated should be sent by either mail 

 or express to G. E. Stone, Massachusetts Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station, Amherst, Mass. The work is done gratuitously 

 by the station for people living in the State, but the postage 

 or express charges should be paid by the person sending the 

 samples. 



3. Seasonal Peculiarities. 



The extreme conditions which have prevailed during the past 

 four years have been the cause of much injury to vegetation. 

 In previous reports attention has been called to some of these 

 troubles, more particularly to the extensive winter-killing which 

 caused so much injury during the winter of 1903-04, at which 



