July, 1912.] 



89 



Horticulture. 



that is the percentage of seeds that have 

 germinated on the amount of non-selected 

 seeds. This is indicated by the formula 

 bx k» xKe, here R _ tne p Ur eness ex- 



piessed in percentage of weight, Kz = per- 

 centage of germinating seeds ; andKe = 

 percentage of seed germinating within a 

 fixed tima on* the total amount of germi- 

 nating seeds. The value of this percen- 

 tage of utilizable seeds is absolutely only 

 when there is a direct proportion bet- 

 ween the number and weight of the 

 seeds. Otherwise it gi ves us only conclu- 

 sions within very wide limits. 



Prom what has been said two points 

 are clear : 



1. The necessity of determining the 

 absolute power of germinating. 



2. The usefulness of estimating in 

 practice the percentage of utilizable 

 seeds ; this gives the value of a lot as 

 material for cultivation. 



The question of the yield of forest 

 trees in good seed has acquired greater 

 importance now that the method of arti- 

 ficial forest regeneration is gaining more 

 and more giound. 



The number of fruits cannot give an 

 exact idea of the value of the yield. The 

 empirical determination of the percen- 

 tage of empty seeds, if it is sufficient in 



practice, is certainly unsatisfactory for 

 the man who is looking for the cause of 

 an increased or diminished yield. 



For this purpose it is necessary to 

 determine the energy of fructification: 

 that is the percentage ratio between the 

 number of flowers and the number of 

 seeds, normally developed and capable 

 of germinating. 



Underequal conditionsof surroundings 

 in all the stages of the development of 

 the seed, the energy of fructification 

 shows how far the conditions themselves 

 approached the optimum. This method 

 besides supplying very exact figures for 

 estimating the yield also allows the data 

 obtained in successive years to be com- 

 pared, and clearly brings out the causes 

 which affect the formation of the seed. 



The following conclusions may be 

 drawn : 



1. Very exact methods should be used 

 in determining the productiveness and 

 germinating power of the seeds. ' 



2. The determination of the product- 

 iveness and of energy of fructification 

 should be made in surroundings, either 

 identical or comparable, and a register 

 should be kept of the conditions of in- 

 crease and of the appearance of casual 

 factors that may influence the yield. 



HORTICULTURE. 



HINTS ON EXHIBITING. 



(From the Gardeners' Chronicle, 

 No. l,324.-Vol. LI., May 11. 1912.) 



There are many excellent cultivators 

 who can raise most creditable produce, 

 but who are unable, through lack of 

 foresight in exhibiting to make a good 

 show of their material. Such failures 

 could be avoided in large measure by a 

 little forethought and attention to detail- 



As an old exhibitor myself, I have fre- 

 quently noticed, with regret, the spoiling 

 of what should have been a thoroughly 

 creditable exhibit, by slovenly and care- 

 less staging. 



One very small point is frequently 

 neglected— the early painting of all boxes 

 which are to be used. Over and over 

 again I have met with cases in which 

 this work has been left until a day or 

 two before the exhibition, with the 

 result that the paint, still damp and 

 sticky, spreads itself lavishly during 



