2 N. H. Experiment Station 



tion of the samples was found to be as represented. In 

 purity 88 percent was found satisfactory or better, and 

 in germination 84 percent. This year a much larger 

 percent of the red clover samples was found below in 

 both purity and germination than last year. This state- 

 ment also applies to red top. When all the different 

 kinds of seeds are considered, the percent found low has 

 not increased over last year's figures significantly, per- 

 haps, but it indicates a lack of decided improvement, at 

 least, which might be possible and desirable. 



THE PURPOSE OF SEED TESTING 



To the dealer who feels that seed testing requirements 

 add just so much more routine to his already overbur- 

 dened list of details, as well as to the farmer who seldom 

 looks at this bulletin or even at the guarantee tags on the 

 seed he buys, all our efforts may sometimes seem mere 

 wasted energy. And yet, in general, seed testing has been, 

 and is a most potent factor for good to the individuals in 

 both these lines of business. Each is afforded an oppor- 

 tunity to know more about the product he is handling. 

 The dealer who intends to sell only the best is protected 

 against buying inferior seed as well as from the unwar- 

 ranted suspicion of the farmer who has experienced a crop 

 failure of uncertain origin. Few people, indeed, can de- 

 tect by observation appreciable quantities of dirt or 

 weeds in various species of seeds and no one can success- 

 fully prophesy as to the viability of seeds except by mak- 

 ing actual germination tests. The details necessary for 

 getting reasonably uniform results in the sprouting of 

 some of our common plants is little appreciated. Ken- 

 tucky bluegrass requires about a month to complete a 

 germination test, for example, and all this time certain 

 temperature and moisture conditions must be carefully 

 provided. And, again, not a single uniform temperature 

 but alternating from "hot" to "cold", 68° to 86°, and back 



