MARKETING COTTONSEED FOR PLANTING PURPOSES 17 
of this fact, a widespread belief exists that the making of germina- 
tion tests of planting cottonseed is of minor or secondary importance. 
This belief is based largely on two factors: (1) That seed from 
mature cotton harvested under favorable conditions and stored prop- 
erly will germinate satisfactorily, and (2) that the heavy rate of 
seeding employed by most farmers will give a good stand of plants 
although a large percentage of the seed may not grow. These fac- 
tors are true to a limited extent. However, two lots of seed may be 
handled and stored in exactly the same manner and yet there may 
be a wide difference in the percentage of germination. Also the 
farmer who buys planting cottonseed is entitled to know, so far as 
practicable, what percentage may be expected to grow in order that 
he may effect a corresponding saving in the cost of seeding by ad- 
justing accordingly the quantity to be sown per acre. 
The results of germination tests made by the seed laboratory, 
Bureau of Plant Industry, of samples submitted to the Bureau of 
Agricultural Economics show that there is a wide variation in the 
viability of cottonseed sold for planting purposes. This variation 
occurs not only between the samples submitted by different dealers, 
but also between the percentage of germinable seed in each of two 
or more samples submitted by the same dealer. For example, of 
the 1919 crop, one of five samples of as many varieties submitted 
by a dealer tested only 56 per cent, while the other four ranged from 
80 to 93 per cent; and of the 1920 crop, one of four samples sub- 
mitted by another dealer tested only 59 per cent, the other three 88, 
88, and 94.5 per cent. 
With further reference to the 1919 crop, the percentage of germi- 
nation of the TO samples tested ranged from 45 to 96 per cent, aver- 
aging 82.5 per cent. Twenty-one of the samples tested 90 per cent or 
over, averaging 92 per cent; 28 tested 80 to 89 per cent, inclusive, 
averaging 85.7 per cent. These 49 samples tested 80 per cent or 
above, averaging 88.4 per cent, while the remaining 21 samples (30 
per cent of the total) germinated less than 80 per cent, with the low 
average of 68.8 per cent. The 1920 crop samples tested averaged 
85.3 per cent, or 2.8 per cent higher than those of the 1919 crop. This 
was to be expected, because of the more favorable weather generally 
for harvesting the 1920 crop. However, of the 89 samples submitted 
IT, or nearly one-fifth of the total, germinated less than 80 per cent, 
with the same low average of 68.8 per cent. If germination be used 
as the basis of values, the 1919 crop lots testing 80 per cent and over, 
averaging 88.4 per cent, are worth 28.5 per cent more, and the 1920 
crop lots testing 80 and over, averaging 89.1 per cent, are worth 29.5 
per cent more than those testing less than 80 per cent and averaging 
only 68.8 per cent. 
CAUSES OF LOW GERMINATION 
Low germination may be caused by unfavorable weather condi- 
tions, delay in harvesting, and heating in storage. A severe drought 
during August and September usually results in immature or unde- 
veloped seed of low vialibility. Wet weather, extending over a period 
of a week or more, causes more or less damage to the germination 
of the seed by the continued presence of excessive moisture in the 
bolls. Tests are on record of seed from cotton harvested after a 
