PROPAGATION OF PLANTS 



51 



48. Seed Analysis and Valuation. Corn seed is always 

 pure seed, but with other farm seeds there is another 

 factor to consider, the amount of weed seeds and dirt. 

 This is more important with the small seeds, such as grass 

 and clover, than with the larger seeds, such as wheat and 

 oats. The small seeds are more likely to contain weeds, 

 the weeds are more likely to escape notice, and are 

 harder to remove from small seeds. A sample of seed 

 may contain: 



(1) Live, or viable seed. 



(2) Dead seed. 



(3) Seeds of other useful plants. 



(4) Broken seeds, dirt, chaff, etc. 



(5) Weed seeds of the kinds common in the region. 



(6) Noxious weed seeds, even a few of which condemn 

 the seed. 



49. Germination Tests. Lay a moist blotter or a piece 

 of moist cotton flannel 



on a plate. Count out 



one hundred seeds, just 



as they come. Put them 



on the blotter; cover 



with a piece of paper, 



and then with another 



moist blotter. Lay over 



this a piece of glass, or 



cover with an inverted 



plate. Keep in a moderately warm place, and examine 



from time to time. Remove the sprouted seeds, and 



count them to get the per cent of germination. Several 



samples may be tested at one time on a plate (Fig. 33). 



Flo . 33. 



Method of 



of seeds 



