102 



not read because, of lack of time, but copies had previously been 

 distributed to the meeting. 



On the auestions of Hard Husk in Clover Seed and of Broken Seeds. 



By. 

 G. PAMMER AND J. SCHINDLER, Vienna. 



The estimation of hard husked seeds of clovers is arrived at according 

 to the technical standards for seed testing laid down by the Union of 

 Agricultural Experimental Stations in Germany (in force since 13th 

 September, 1912). It is provided that the percentage of hard-husked seeds 

 shall be indicated as such in the investigational report, and it is added 

 that " a small undetermined proportion would presumably germinate in 

 due course." 



. The text-book of the Austrian Union of Agricultural Experimental 

 Stations (in use as from 1st January, 1913) prescribes that, " in the case of 

 lucerne, one hah of the quantity of hard-husked seeds be added to figtires 

 indicating seed which has actuaUy germuiated, and one third in the case of 

 other clover seeds. The corresponding results are, however, to be specified 

 as well." 



In connection with these two divergent sets of instructions, we would 

 draw attention to the fact that, for the last 40 years, there has been an 

 extraordinarily heavy increase in Austria in the use of clover seed for fields 

 to be laid down for forage supply. This is chiefly due to the enlightened 

 labours of F. G. Stebler in Switzerland and T. von Weinzierl in Austria. 

 The cultivation of clover (red clover in particular), either pure, or mixed 

 ■ solely with one variety of grass, no longer accounts entirely for the demand 

 for clover seed. Large quantities are used for fields to be laid down for 

 from three to six years' ley, and thus it is made clear that the necessity 

 arises to take up the question, of the value of hard-husked clover seed. 



The area of pastures and meadows laid down "to an even longer ley 

 (10 to 12 years), either freshly or artificially sown with clover and grass 

 seed, increases year by year, and annually absorbs large quantities of seed. 

 In view of these circumstances, it is important to settle the question 

 whether the hard-husked clover seed which does not grow in the year of 

 sowing is really to be regarded as useless. 



When clover is planted alone for a one to two years' ley it springs up 

 quickly and develops regularly — ^which means avoiding, as much as 

 possible, seed showing a high percentage of hard husk. The state of affairs 

 is different in the case of fields laid down for several years. Storage of 

 the clover seed at a moist, low temperature dm-ing the first and second 

 winters, or some other determining factor, is capable of mitigating hard 

 husk. As the clover seed, germinating by degrees, would gradually add 

 its quota to the whole stock sown, the existence of hard-husked seed should 

 not, therefore, be regarded as a drawback in the case of clovers principally 

 sown when laying down fields for several years — such as white clover, 

 alsike, bird's foot trefoil, marsh bird's foot trefoil, and hop clover. 



It is a well-known fact that clover growths in a meadow undergo 

 continual renewal by later germination. But, so far as we are aware, no 

 experiments which might have solved this question have been carried out. 

 StegHch''' made and supervised his experiments for a period of not more 

 than 17 months — i.e., from 15.4.08 to 15.9.09. It was not ascertained, 

 therefore, whether any appreciable percentage of the remaining hard seed 



* B. Steglich; "Investigations re Hard Husk and Broken Seeds during 

 Germination of Clover Seed." Vols. 79 and 80 of " Agricultural Experimental 

 Stations "; pp. 611 to 620 (Berlin, 1913). 



