Germination. 31 



seeds in soil to test them, since the seed-tester shown in 

 Fig. 6 is much more convenient. This useful device con- 

 sists of two circular pieces of clean, moderately thick 

 cloth of rather loose texture, a table plate that is not 

 warped, and a pane of glass large enough to cover the 

 plate. The cloths are dipped in water, and squeezed a 

 few times while under the water to press out the air. 



FIG. 6. Showing- a simple seed-tester, adapted to farmers' and 

 gardeners' use. 



They are then wrung out until moderately wet, and 

 spread over the bottom of the plate as shown, and the 

 seeds to be tested are placed between them. It is well 

 to use a hundred or more seeds of each sample, as a 

 larger number will show the per cent of vitality more 

 accurately than a smaller one, and the lot should al- 

 ways be well mixed before taking the sample. The 

 plate should be kept covered with the glass to prevent 

 evaporation from the cloths, and it may be placed in 

 any room of comfortable living temperature. The seeds 

 should be frequently examined, and may be removed as 

 they sprout, when by subtracting the number that fail 

 to sprout from the number put in, the per cent of vi- 

 tality may be readily computed. The cloths should be 



