TESTING PASTURE SEEDS AT HOME 



51 



Duration of Experiment, — The following periods are those generally 

 adopted for germination tests : — 



10 days for Clovers and most other seeds, 



14 days for Rye-grasses and Timothy, 



21 days for all Grasses, excepting Meadow and Rye-grasses and Timothy, 



28 days for Meadow-grasses. 



Hard Seeds. — After most tests of leguminous species, a number of hard- 

 shelled seeds will be found remaining apparently fresh and unswollen ; and 

 though these are not reckoned when determining the percentage of germina- 

 tion of the sample, they should be carefully counted, since some proportion 

 of them would germinate if allowed sufficient time. 



Home-Made Germinators. — Perhaps the best and most simple 

 apparatus for home testing is prepared by taking two plates, in one of which 



Home-made Germinatoe (No. 1). 



is placed a folded flannel or other woollen cloth which is very damp without 

 being soaked. The seeds are placed regularly between the folds, and the 

 whole is then covered by inverting the other plate over it (i). 



Another equally simple apparatus is made by soaking a handful of cotton- 

 wool in a glass or tin dish containing a little water. The seeds are placed on 

 the cotton-wool, previous to the dish being covered with a sheet of glass. 



Seeds may also be tested by placing them between the folds of damp 

 flannel or blotting paper in a porous saucer standing in about half its height 

 of water in a tin pan, which must be covered with a sheet of glass. Sufficient 

 moisture will soak through the porous saucer to supply pasture seeds (2). 



To test several samples at once, obtain a large dripping-pan, and place an 

 inverted flower-pot saucer in each of the four corners. On these rest a flat. 



