40 



EXPERIMENT STATION. 



[Jan. 



Results of Seed Separation. 



BY G. E. STONE. 



The following tables show the results of some seed separation 

 tests made the past year. In the case of the parsnip seed, in 

 Table I., the seeds were cleaned, jnst as they came from the 

 field, with a winnowing machine, and were separated into four 

 different grades. The chaff and very small, imperfect seeds 

 were discarded and the three remaining grades tested. Two 

 hundred seeds of each grade were planted, with the following 

 results : — 



The results given in this table show conclusively the advan- 

 tage of seed sej^aration. The number of seedlings, which in 

 this case represents the percentage of germination, and the 

 weight show important differences. The " small heavy seeds " 

 resemble the larger ones in being fairly well filled out, but the 

 wings were either broken or not developed characteristically. 

 For the purpose of obtaining large plants of a uniform size 

 all but the large parsnip seed should be discarded before 

 planting. 



