VOLUME LXXII NUMBER 6 
THE 
DOTANICAL GeAZETTE 
DECEMBER 10921 
OPTIMUM TEMPERATURES FOR FLOWER SEED 
GERMINATION: 
GEo. T. HARRINGTON 
(WITH TEN FIGURES) 
The proper conditions for the germination of flower seeds is 
a subject upon which but little work has been published. During 
the spring of 1912, preliminary work was done in the seed labo- 
ratory of the United States Department of Agriculture on the 
temperature conditions best suited for the germination of a few 
of the more common flower seeds. During the winter and spring of 
1913-1914, further work was done with the same species investi- 
gated in 1912, and with a few additional species. The publication 
of the results has been unavoidably delayed for several years. 
In the meantime, the recommendations included herein have been 
followed by the seed laboratory with good results. 
The seeds included in the investigation were those of Impatiens 
balsamina, Eschscholizia californica, Iberis amara, Cosmos bipinnatus, 
Kochia scoparia, Delphinium ajacis, Calendula officinalis, Reseda 
odorata, Tropaeolum majus and T. minus, Viola tricolor, Petunia 
hybrida, Dianthus chinensis, Papaver spp., Portulaca splendens, 
Antirrhinum majus, Lathyrus odoratus, and Zinnia elegans. Only 
a small number of samples of some kinds was included in the actual 
investigation. The subsequent experience of the seed laboratory, 
however, includes the germination of such kinds of seeds both at 
- fhe co of work done while in the Seed Laboratory, United States Department 
of Agricul 
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