II04 The Quality of Farm and Garden Seeds, [feb., 



The figures indicate that good quality seed of most crops is 

 obtainable, though stocks are doubtless very short in some 

 cases. In nearly all cases seeds harvested in the British Isles 

 are showing higher germination than in the previous year. 

 The fine weather experienced in the late summer no doubt 

 largely accounts for this. Another factor, the full influence 

 of which it is not easy for the Seed Testing Station to estimate, 

 is the amount of seed held over from the previous season. The 

 germination of such held-over seed may not deteriorate very 

 greatly in most cases, provided the seed has been stored under 

 favourable conditions, yet the presence of large held-over 

 stocks always seems to lower the average germination more 

 than would be expected. It is probable that such stocks are 

 this year very small, except in the case of some of the vegetable 

 seeds. 



In the case of most of the cereal, pulse and vegetable seeds 

 there is no very great difference between the two seasons' 

 figures. Beet, however, shows an increase of ii per cent., and 

 reaches a figure almost as high as that of mangolds. The 

 growth of the latter seed is rather disappointing, as it was 

 expected that last year's average would have been improved 

 upon. Peas show an improvement of 6 per cent., which may 

 probably be increased when the whole of the season's results 

 are averaged. 



Among the clovers the outstanding feature is an increase of 

 13 per cent, in the germination of trefoil. There are some 

 exceptionally good samples of this seed procurable this 

 season. 



Red clover shows the slight increase of 2 per cent., but the 

 improvement in the growth of English seed this season is 

 probably greater than this. There is a marked decrease in 

 the amount of dodder found. Last season seeds of this weed 

 occurred in 27*3 per cent, of red clover samples, whereas the 

 corresponding figure this season is 21-2 per cent. 



Alsike does not appear to be of quite such good quality as 

 usual, both purity and germination being lower. 



All the grasses, with the exception of crested dogstail, show 

 improved figures. Though only a comparatively few samples 

 of this seed have yet been tested, it appears that much of the 

 new seed is of poor growth. Italian rye-grass shows a slightly 

 higher germination than perennial rye-grass. 



Farmers, allotment holders and others desiring to send seeds 

 to the Station to be tested should comply with the following 

 regulations : — 



