140 THE SEED-GROWER. 



then laid between two dinner plates and kept in a warm 

 room, giving proper attention to keeping the layers 

 moistened as necessary. 



To pick out seeds of grasses to be tested, use a pane 

 of glass, over the surface of which lay spread thinly the 

 seeds, which have previously been made thoroughly 

 wet. The glass is then held up to the light, and the 

 seeds may easily be picked out from the chaff with a 

 forceps and counted. 



BEST METHOD FOR KEEPING SEEDS IN STORE. 



Seeds are best kept in a dry, airy room. They should 

 not be placed in air-tight vessels. Cloth sacks are 

 better for keeping seeds in than anything else. 



The best way, and it should be done with all fine seeds 

 especially, is to fill the sacks about half full (in order 

 to handle them more readily) and suspend from racks 

 specially made, or from hooks attached to the ceiling 

 rafters. The bags should not lay against a wall. Hold- 

 ing suspended in the way mentioned, -will permit free 

 circulation of air about the bags, and render safe from 

 mice. 



Unceasing watchfulness is necessary in the care of 

 seeds to preserve from damage by insects. 



Seeds kept in drawers and bins should be overhauled, 

 particularly during the warm season, and if there are 

 any indications of insect life, such as lumpiness or 

 forming in small balls, etc. , the seeds should be taken 

 out and given a cleaning in a sieve or in the fan-mill. 

 The drawer or bin should also be carefully cleaned be- 

 fore the seeds are put back. 



A few tar-balls put into each sack, drawer or bin will 

 serve measurably to drive away insects, though they are 

 not a sure preventive. See directions for killing weevil 

 and insects in seeds in article on pea-weevil on page 73. 



