tOBACCO CULTURE. 15 



die ends or edges of which dip into water. Sprinkle the 

 seed to be tested over the surface of the cloth thus raised 

 above the water, and keep in a warm place. At the end of 

 five days time, all good seed will have sprouted, and by 

 counting the unsprouted seed, the actual proportion of bad 

 seed can be accurately determined. It is not necessary that 

 seed tested by either of these methods be finally discarded 

 unless the proportion of bad seed is very large, for by know- 

 ing the amount of bad seed present, enough seed may be 

 used to secure a full stand and crop. 



GERMINATION. 



Under certain conditions it may be desirable to gain 

 time by germinating or sprouting the seed before it is 

 sown. This may be done by taking a strip of cotton cloth 

 about six or eight inches in width, sprinkling the seed even- 

 ly over this surface, and then rolling the cloth into a com- 

 pact roll. If one end of this strip be placed in a basin or 

 tumbler containing a little water, the roll of cloth will absorb 

 moisture as a lamp wick absorbs oil. If the roll is kept con- 

 stantly moist, the seed will germinate, and if carefully re- 

 moved from the cloth as soon as sprouted and sown in a 

 prepared seed-bed, a few days time will be gained. Great 

 care however, is necessary not to injure the tender, young 

 sprouts, and the danger of such injury is so great that this 

 method is only to be recommended in exceptional cases. 



Another good way is to sow the seed in a box, or pan 

 of earth, which is watered daily and kept in a warm place, 



