10 



N. n. EXPERIMENT STATION 



[Bulletin 164 



Average Number of Seeds in One Pound of Pure Seed. 



Kentucky Bluegrass 

 Orchard Grass 

 Redtop 

 Timothy . 

 Alsike Clover 

 Red Clover 

 White Clover 

 Alfalfa . 



2,400,000 

 579,000 

 6,030,000 

 1,170,000 

 707,000 

 279,000 

 740,000 

 209,000 



Note. — The uiunber of seeds per pound may vary 20 per cent, either 

 way, depending on the proportion of small and large seeds. 



A comparison of the average per cent, of purity and vitality 

 of the seeds tested this year with those tested last year shows 

 that a better quality of seeds are now on the market. In all 

 of the seeds tested except corn and oats the average of germi- 

 nation was higher. The average purity of all seeds except 

 alsike clover, redtop and timothy was also slightly higher last 

 year. No samples of very dirty or foul seed were inspected, 

 although a greater variety of weed seeds was found than last 

 year. Two or three samples of redtop were badly mixed with 

 timothy which lowered their purity percentage and therefore 

 their value. Such mixtures, however, are not considered in- 

 jurious. 



A considerable quantity of poor seed corn was on the market 

 a 3^ear ago, owing to the poor corn season of the year previous. 

 Some farmers bought this seed without a germination guar- 

 antee, and after securing a very poor stand sent in a sample 

 of the seed for testing. The farmer found out his trouble too 

 late, however. The conclusion seems to be, therefore, that 

 the quality of our seeds is gradually improving and that the 

 farmer can get good seed if he insists upon it. 



