1912. 



PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 



105 



Table IV. — Sho-wing Germination of Onion, Tobacco and Celery re- 

 ceived at the Station since 1899. 



During the period from 1899 to the present time 536 germi- 

 nation tests of onion seed, 38 of tobacco and 66 of celery have 

 been made, representing about one-fourth of the seed which we 

 have tested. The principal feature to be noted is, perhaps, the 

 variation in the percentage of germination occurring from year 

 to year in different seeds. While it is perhaps not legitimate 

 with the data at hand to draw too close deductions, we have 

 noted in our seed work the effects of unfavorable climatic con- 

 ditions upon the size and weight of seeds and seed vitality. The 

 lowest average for onion seed was obtained in 1911, most of this 

 seed probably having been grown in 1910; the highest average 

 germination for onion in 1905, and for tobacco in 1910. The 

 tobacco seed are practically all grown in the Connecticut valley, 

 and obtained from carefully selected plants the year before. 

 The variation in vitality is of some significance here. The cel- 

 ery seed tested is of uncertain origin, and the variation has little 



