142 The Principles of Vegetable- Gardening 



of the same variety, but which had been kept in the crib in 

 the ordinary way. When tested in May, only 77 per cent 

 germinated." Samples were taken in like manner at another 

 time from fifty ears which were gathered in October and properly 

 cured. Tested in March, 100 per cent germinated. Fifty ears 

 of the same variety, which stood in the shock until February, 

 were selected, and kernels taken. Tested in March, only 72 per 

 cent germinated. The same investigator made the following 

 test : A lot of twenty -five ears of corn was selected from the 

 bin in the middle of December, and one kernel taken from the 

 middle of each ear and tested ; 96 per cent germinated. The 

 ears were then buried in loam, in a warm aspect. January 8 

 a kernel was taken from each ear and tested ; 78 per cent germi- 

 nated. January 21, 42 per cent germinated. March 16 and 

 April 13, none germinated. In 317 tests, made by the same ex- 

 perimenter, the average percentage of germination of corn cured 

 "by artificial heat, by hanging the ears by husks or other means, 

 so as to admit of thorough drying, or by ricking the ears or 

 spreading them thinly over the floor," was 87, while of corn from 

 ordinary bins and cribs, but 69.8 per cent germinated. 



The temperature which healthy seeds can endure 

 depends very largely on the amount of moisture which 

 they contain. Moist seeds cannot resist as high or as 

 low temperatures as dry ones can. For this reason 

 seed corn and many other seeds are likely to be poor 

 after a hard winter. Dry turnip seeds may resist a 

 temperature of 90° to 100° for five or six years. If 

 seeds are laid on ice for a considerable length of 

 time they usually become weak or worthless, because 

 of the low temperature coupled with the absorption of 

 moisture. If perfectly dry the same seeds probably 

 would have resisted lower temperatures. 



Under ordinary conditions, the vegetable -gardener 

 will secure best results by storing his seeds in strong 



