CHAPTER VIII 



The Testing of Seed 



As seed grows old it loses its strength, and finally reaches 

 the point at which it can no longer sprout. Various kinds of 

 seed are different in this matter, seed of cucumber often 

 being good for ten years, while 

 seed of foxglove ought to be 

 planted almost as soon as it is dry. 

 Since seed so easily spoils, it is wise 

 to test it when bought, in order to 

 make sure that it is living. If we 

 find that it is dead, we can at once 

 buy other seed, and thus make sure 

 of a good crop. 



A simple seed tester is easily made 

 out of a plate, a sheet of glass large „ mi . , 



. ^ ' . & . Fig. 35. — The simplest 



enough to COVer it, and two pieces form of seed tester: two 



of cloth or blotting paper. The P lates . with cloth, or blot- 

 cloth or the blotters are wet, and 



placed on the plate with seed between them. Over them is 

 set the glass, to prevent drying out. Or another plate may 

 be used, turned upside down. The tester is kept in a warm 

 place, and occasionally the cloth is moistened afresh, until 

 the seeds sprout. Then by counting it is easy to find out 

 whether the rest of the seed, as a whole, is good or not. 



This ought to be calculated as a percentage. Twenty-five 

 is a good number of seeds to test for an ordinary garden 



57 



