84 CHILDREN'S GARDENS 



box. Buy standard varieties from reliable dealers, 

 and obtain your seeds in time to replace them if they 

 do not come up to a proper standard when tested. 



When possible buy seeds in bulk and ask for the 

 best discount allowed. Seedsmen will do the best they 

 can to give fair prices. They want the trade. The 

 nature of their product does not allow them to guar- 

 antee results and this fact causes them to strive for a 

 good reputation, and protect that reputation by doing 

 all they can to sell good seeds. But also remember 

 that they do not grow all the seeds they sell. They 

 buy from growers all over the country. 



Testing. In making a seed test for percentage of 

 germination, use one hundred seeds, taking everything 

 just as it comes from the package (including pieces of 

 trash). Do not pick out the good-looking seeds only. 

 Then make note every twenty-four hours how many 

 have sprouted, according to the kind of seed and the 

 time it takes to germinate. This test should last from 

 one to three weeks. From observation during the test 

 try to determine how many show strong or weak 

 viability (power to grow). Get a fair idea of the 

 temperature conditions under which the seeds are ger- 

 minated. It should be about 65-75 degrees K, with 

 sufficient moisture and fresh air and darkness. Seeds 

 will often germinate in the favorable environment of 

 a seed-testing box when their vitality is so weak as 

 to be unable to withstand the actual out-door condi- 

 tions of the soil. So try to understand what you are 

 doing in making a test and learn to read the results so 



