50 



I'LA.NT J'kdl'ACAlJoX 



In these two scries of tests it liapjieiied th.i; tliu low- 

 est priced seed g-ave the highest germination and tlie 

 most expensi\e the lowest. Since the amount of time 

 required to make the tests was scarce!}- more than an 

 hour and the cost certainly not more than 30 cents for 

 each series, it is e^•ide^t that a sa\ing of $1 to $1.70 on 

 the crimson clo\-er and $2 on the sw^eet clo\-er was made 



FIG. 41— STERILIZED VS UNSTERII.IZED SOIL 



A, soil sterilized by heating before sowing; B, unsterilized soil. Notice weed 



grow ill. 



on each bushel of seed bought, even without considering 

 the higher percentage of plants likely to follow sowing 

 these seeds. One interesting point in these tests is that 

 the seedsman who quoted the lower price on sweet 

 clover also quoted the highest on crimson clover. 



It must not be inferred from these instances that cheap 

 seed is always or necessarily the better to buy. On the 

 contrary low-priced seed is perhaps far more often the 

 more expensive because of its probable dirtiness and low 

 percentage of germination. Anything but an actual test can 

 determine this point. 



