

MARKETING COTTON SEED FOE PLANTING PUEPOSES. 19 



aging 82.5 per cent. Twenty-one of the samples tested 90 per cent or 

 over, averaging 92 per cent ; 28 tested 80 to 89 per cent, inclusive, 

 averaging 85.7 per cent ; these 49 samples tested 80 per cent or above, 

 averaging 88.4 per cent, while the remaining 21 samples (30 per cent of 

 the total) germinated less than 80 per cent, with the low average of 68.8 

 per cent. The 1920 crop samples tested averaged 85.3 per cent, or 2.8 

 per cent higher than those of the 1919 crop. This was to he expected 

 because of the more favorable weather generally for harvesting the 

 1920 crop. However, of the 89 samples submitted, 17, or nearly one- 

 fifth of the total, germinated less than 80 per cent, with the same 

 low average of 68.8 per cent. If germination be used as the basis 

 of values, the 1919 crop lots testing 80 per cent and over, averaging 

 88.4 per cent, are worth 28.5 per cent more, and the 1920 crop lots 

 testing 80 and over, averaging 89.1 per cent, are worth 29.5 per cent 

 more than those testing less than 80 per cent and averaging only 68.8 

 per cent. 



CAUSES OF LOW GERMINATION. 



Low germination may be caused by unfavorable weather condi- 

 tions, delay in harvesting, and heating in storage. A severe drought 

 during August and September usually results in immature or unde- 

 veloped seed of low viability. Wet weather, extending over a period 

 of a week or more, causes more or less damage to the germination 

 of the seed by the continued presence of excessive moisture in the 

 bolls. Tests are on record 8 of seed from cotton harvested after a 

 long rainy season which averaged only 55 per cent germination and 

 which ran as low as 29 per cent. Also tests 9 of seed from cotton 

 harvested in the early fall months showed an average of 90 per cent 

 germination, while that from mature cotton harvested in January 

 averaged only 43 per cent, and from frosted cotton harvested during 

 the same month only 14 per cent germination. 



MAKING TESTS. 



' hie or more representative samples of each lot of seed should be 

 taken at the time of sacking, and marked with the lot number, for 

 use in making germination tests. The sample should contain at least 

 1 ounce of seeds, about 300. in order that duplicate tests, using 100 

 Is in each, may be made and a part of the sample retained for 

 check. Tf there is any probability thai a lot of seed lias become dam- 

 aged, from any cause prior to harvesting and ginning, such seed 

 should be tested as sooji as ginned or delinted, and held in bulk pend- 

 ing the results of the germination test before being recleaned and 

 sacked. Witli the possible exception of cases where there may be a. 

 shortage of high germinable seed of a particular variety, there is no 



■Arkanaaa Agricultural Experiment Station, Circular :.'•-■•. Testing Cotton Seed for Gar* 

 minatioD. 



*Arkanaai Agricultural Experiment Station, Circular 87; Cotton Seed for Planting 

 Purpoaea. 



