TESTING SEEDS. 139 
TESTING SEEDS. 
When there is any doubt as to the vitality of seeds, 
they should be given a test before sowing them or offer- 
ing them for sale. 
In making the test, it is desirable to know what pro- 
portion or percentage will germinate, as, if this proves 
to be small, seed must be rejected or destroyed. The 
usual rule is to make the test with 100 seeds taken from 
the lot just as itruns, without picking out any that seem 
defective. A record of all tests should be kept in a 
book ruled and headed like the following illustration: 
at 3 2 S S a8 o 
de ® 68 4 olaS Sle o 
0D seep 2 2° |@Sjpgaelog 
SQ Variety. Zo |F2/3 3/se| Remarks. 
ag - o/S85 Qo 
Be oy. ee 
ES, 
1904. 
Sept. 4)Select Jersey Wake-! Good, strong 
field Cabbage. . . |Brill. | 100) 8 | 78! vitality. 
Sept. 4/Blood Turnip Beet . |Jones.| 100} 14 | 23 |Slow; nogood 
The best method for testing is in earth on the benches 
of a greenhouse if convenient; if not, then by sowing 
the seed in shallow boxes of light soil in fine tilth placed 
near the window of the room occupied. Before sow- 
ing, water the soil thoroughly, cover seed lightly and 
spray with a fine rose sprayer or Scollay sprinkler. 
Seeds like asparagus, okra and parsley may be soaked 
to advantage from 12 to 24 hours before test is made 
in soil. 
A simple way to test seeds which germinate readily 
is to place them between moistened layers of raw cot- 
ton, flannel cloth, or thick blotting paper, which are 
