106 



were missing, seedlings were of no use to the agriculturist. In 

 Denmark such broken seedlings were always counted as " dead." 



Mr. Avderson stated that at his station 195 portions of seedling^ 

 of red clover consisting of root and plumule only were planted 

 and only 3 portions produced leaves. Mr. Lafferty agreed that 

 the percentage of such seedlings which were capable of producing 

 plants would be very small. Mr. Anderson was of the opinion 

 that the percentage was negligible and concurred in the views- 

 expressed by Mr. Dorph-Petersen and Professor Voigt. 



Mr. Fleischner (Czecho-Slovakian delegate to 1st International 

 Seed Trade Conference) and Dr. Chmelar intimated that the seed 

 trade would not be satisfied unless more than 50 per cent, of 

 hard seeds were regarded as capable of germination. It was very 

 desirable, from the point of view of the trade, that seed testing 

 stations should state precisely what percentage of hard seeds 

 is capable of germination and what percentage represents really 

 " hard " seeds, and that there should be uniformity in this 

 matter. 



Reference was also made to the cause of breakage in the case 

 of broken seedlings. Mr. Devoto was of the opinion that breakage 

 is caused by excess of moisture in the embryo, and Mr. Lafferty 

 described the cause as internal strain (super -pressure) during the 

 actual process of germination. 



In summing up the discussions on the papers by Mr. Brown 

 and Messrs. Pammer and Schindler, Dr. Voigt referred to the 

 wide differences of opinion existing in regard to the question of 

 hard seeds, and said that the more the matter was studied the 

 more difficult it became. It was very desirable, therefore, that 

 efforts should be made to devise an international standard of 

 value. Broken seedlings (or " cripples ") would be of little use 

 in Europe. He agreed with Mr. Devoto that excess of moisture 

 caused breakage. 



It will be observed from the report of the Thursday afternoon 

 session that a committee was appointed to deal with the questions 

 of hard seeds and broken seedlings. 



The business of the session having concluded, Dr. Woodman, 

 of the University School of Agriculture, gave the meeting a short 

 but interesting sketch of the manifold activities of the school, 

 and thereafter conducted the Delegates and visitors on a tour of 

 inspection. 



In the evening the committee of nine, which was appointed 

 on Tuesday to consider Dr. Volkart's draft Constitution of the 

 International Seed Testing Association and to settle other 

 important matters, met and continued in session until a late 

 hour. A number of the other delegates were conducted round 

 Christ's College and grounds by the Master, Sir A. E. Shipley. 



