Germination of Clover and Grass Seeds. 51 1 



under favourable conditions during several years ; whereas 

 seeds, which from the first exhibit a low germination, lose 

 their vitality in a comparatively short time. Lt is clear that, 

 for any particular variety, the percentage of loss which may 

 be expected to occur cannot be accurately foretold. Testing 

 will give some information, which can, however, only be 

 regarded as fairly reliable for the particular sample examined. 

 With these reservations, the following table may be repro- 

 duced, showing the results obtained by J. Samek, who tested 

 the germination of certain seeds for several years after they 

 had been gathered. The seeds were kept in paper envelopes 

 in a room warmed during the winter. 















Loss 



Percentage of Germination in the First, Second, 





Per cent. 



Third, Fourth, and Fifth Year 



after Harvest. 





in Four 















Years. 





First. 



Second. 



Third. 



Fourth. 



Fifth. 





Red Clover - 



95 



96 



95 



89 



82 







«5 



83 



81 



80 



65 



H 



" - 



89 



93 



88 



83 



75 





Alsike ---- 



73 



64 



5i 



■ 37 



15 



79 "4 



White Clover 



74 



72 



63 



52 



5° 



32-4 



Sainfoin 



87 



92 



78 



61 



54 



37'9 



Serradella 



36 



32 



33 



22 



14 



61 * 1 



Lucerne ... 



98 



95 



98 



81 



79 







95 



93 



9i 



74 



68 



| 23-0 





89 



84 



80 



70 



70 





Tall Oat Grass - : 



70 



66 



59 



43 



24 







92 



9i 



87 



77 



66 



},, 





69 



77 



7i 



53 



28 



Perennial Ryegrass 



73 



80 



75 



66 









72 



65 



63 



5 ^ 



% 

 3 



j-50-9 





7i 



66 



61 



5 6 



33 





Italian Ryegrass - 



74 



68 



70 



60 



55 



J 38-o 





61 



56 



53 



49 



3i 1 



Meadow Fescue - 



72 



66 



61 



55 



32 







87 



86 



78 



74 



46 



j-40-5 





9i 



88 



78 



75 



65 



Sweet Vernal 



76 



68 



60 



4 1 



39 



} 36'6 





56 



49 



46 



4 ° 



39 





Timothy 



96 



93 



92 



88 



81 



} W 



Cocksfoot - - - - 



94 



88 



90 



89 



9i 



4i 



47 



44 



44 



38 



7-3 



Fiorin - 



60 



48 



33 



. 3 1 



32 



j-44'S 





7i 



75 



59 



5 K 



43 



».> 



70 



69 



5i 



48 



36 





Sheep's Fescue 



65 



61 



68 



42 



21 



} 7o-o 



> > 



90 



73 



7o 



49 



27 



Similar experiments were conducted in 1900 and 190.1 at 

 the Vienna Seed Testing Station with a large number of 

 samples of clover and grass seeds. The seeds were not kept 



