106 



EXPERIMENT STATION. 



[Jan. 



significance for lis. There is no doubt but that unfavorable 

 seasons and other factors show their etfect in the percentages 

 of germination given in tliese tables. In the case of tobacco 

 seed another factor probably enters in, viz., gradual improve- 

 ment in the vitality brought about by care in the selection of the 

 seed plants. 



Table V. — Showing Number of Samples and Pounds of More Impor- 

 tant Varieties of Seeds separated from 1906 to 1911, inclusive. 



Kind of Seed. 



Number 



of 

 Samples. 



Weight 

 (Pounds). 



Per Cent, of 



Seed 



retained. 



Per Cent, of 



Seed 



discarded. 



Onion, 



Celery, 

 Tobacco, 

 Lettuce, 

 Total, 



187 



29 



418 



6 



;,923.30 



555.64 



272.43 



67.72 



640 



9,819.09 



83 6 

 89.3 



85.4 



16 3 

 10.7 

 14.6 

 13 2 



In Table V. is shown the number of samples and pounds of 

 four typical seeds, with the percentage retained and discarded 

 in our sej)aration work, covering a })eriod of five years, from 

 190(5 to 1911. It will be seen from this table that the total 

 number of samples separated is 640, equalling nearly 10,000 

 pounds in weight. The average percentage discarded was about 

 15 per cent., representing small, inferior seeds. Since these 

 were all small seeds the weight in pounds is rather insignificant, 

 as the number of onion seed in a pound is approximately 130,- 

 000, that of celery seed 2,000,000, of lettuce, 400,000 and of 

 tobacco 7,000,000. All the seed work has been done here gratu- 

 itously since its inauguration, the only exception being in the 

 case of retailers who sometimes wish their seed tested in large 

 quantities. The only expense incurred by the grower at present 

 is return postage or express charges, and we are glad to say that 

 this condition is almost invariably complied with. 



In our opinion this work has proved of great value to our 

 agriculturists. So far as seed separation is concerned, the value 

 is greater than some of them realize, and perhaps less than 

 others of the more enthusiastic may believe. The many careful 

 tests which we have been making for years have shown us what 



