68 



SEED TESTING 



Other Causes Affecting Germination Seeds may fail 

 to germinate from other causes than old age. Some- 

 times they are sorted when too damp, and so become 

 musty ; such seeds often fail to germinate. In the pump- 

 kin, cucumber, and certain other plants, the seed shells 

 are sometimes empty. Seeds of Indian corn sometimes 

 freeze before they become dry, and so lose their vitality. 



1yr. 



SOY BEAN 



HOP 



INDIAN CORN 

 ONION 

 PARSNIP 



2 yrs. 



LEEK 



PARSLEY 



PEA 



RHUBARB 

 STRAWBERRY 



3 yrs. 



CARROT 



LENTILS 



MUSTARD 

 TOMATO 



yrs. 



ASPARAGUS GARDEN AND MUSKMELON 



GUMBO 

 LETTUCE 



5 yrs. 



BEAN 



EGG PLANT 

 WATERMELON 



PUMPKIN 

 SQUASH 



o yrs. 



10 yrs. 



ENDIVE 

 CUCUMBER 



OATS 

 BARLEY 

 WHEAT 



FLAX 

 BUCKWHEAT 



FIG. 31. Showing the average number of years that the seeds named retain 

 their power to germinate, under ordinary conditions. 



For these reasons, it is best to test seeds before planting 

 them, unless we know that they will germinate. 



How to Make and Use a Seed Tester A seed tester 

 for use at home may be made of two table plates, and 

 two circular pieces of thick cloth large enough to cover 

 the bottom of the plates. Put the cloths in boiling water 

 for a few minutes before using them, to kill the spores 



