1080 



Institute of Agricultural Botany. 



[Mar., 



conditions." The ideal is to supply to each seed the best 

 possible opportunity for germination; for it is found that the 

 higher the germination under the best conditions, the better 

 the result under those of the field. Seeds, however, are capri- 

 cious, and although it is easy to adopt the best possible con- 

 ditions as a standard, each species, and, in many cases, each 

 variety has its own special requirements which must be satis- 

 fied before it will put forth its best endeavours; and each 

 necessitates separate study. 



Quite apart from the routine work, there are, in addition, 

 innumerable other problems which demand attention — such as 

 the identification of diseases; the determination of the value of 

 " hard seed " in clover; the survival value of split seed; the 

 determination by prevalent weed seeds of place of origin of 

 samples; the value of rapid germination as an indication of 

 vigour; the identification of Crucifers — and many more. 

 Enough has, however, been said to show that the testing of 

 seeds is a highly technical subject, worthy of the position 

 which it holds in the work of the Institute. 



The Station, from 1st August, 19-20, to 31st July, 1921, issued 

 reports on the following samples : — 



Grasses - ' 3,238 



Clovers ... ^ - - - - 5,198 

 Vegetables, Roots, etc. ----- 6,946 



As far as can be judged, an increase of 6 per cent, on these 

 figures is to be anticipated in the present year. 



The Potato Testing Station. — The control of a disease for 

 which there is no known cure is a problem which requires very 

 special measures. If, in addition, the spores of that disease 

 can establish themselves in a locality and survive for years 

 without visible means of subsistence, ready at any moment to 

 attack those susceptible to their onslaughts; and if these spores 

 can be carried from place to place by agents having no relation 

 to their chosen hosts, the difficulties would appear well nigh 

 insuperable. All this is true of wart disease of potatoes, yet, 

 in spite of it, healthy and remunerative crops are being grown in 

 the infected areas. 



Cereals and Pulses 

 Forest Trees 



8,044 

 151 



23.577 



