CHAPTER IV. 



HOW TO TEST SEEDS. 



OWING to the great importance of having good seed to 

 plant, it is wise to test the seed before planting, to 

 determine the percentage of live seeds. Eighty-five to 

 ninety five per cent, of seeds that will start is a good aver- 

 age for No. i seed. Take an average sample, count out 

 ioo seeds and place them in a seed germinator. In the 

 absence of a germinator a simple one can be made as fol- 

 lows: take an old uncracked kitchen plate, cut two pieces 

 of thick cloth or blotting paper, the size of the inner part 

 of the plate, wet thoroughly and drain them. Put one 

 piece of cloth on the plate, and scatter the seeds evenly 

 over it, cover them with the second cloth. Put a piece of 

 glass or another plate over it, to prevent evaporation and 

 set in a warm place. Examine frequently. If ipo seeds 

 are used, the number of seeds that sprout will be the per- 

 ; centage of viable seeds. .. These sprouted seeds make fine 

 l specimens for germination studies. It is well to test all 

 ! seeds. • - ■* ' 1 



The following .is a. good form for a seed testing blank: 



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