6 BULLETIN 725, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
On examination of the table shown, in detail, in the appendix, it 
is found that almost the same conclusions hold true for the entire 
table. The percentage of germination, which is a very important 
factor from the standpoint of the planter, is in almost every case 
reduced by bleaching, and in some instances the power of germina- 
tion is killed entirely. It will be noted that the percentage of kernels 
appearing damaged to the eye is less after bleaching. There is a 
larger difference, however, in the percentage of kernels damaged by 
agencies other than heat, although the heat-damaged kernels are 
considerably less in number in the bleached grain. As will be 
noticed in pages 10 and 11 of the table, badly bin-burned oats were 
bleached, and in these two particular lots the oats appearing sound 
to the eye were increased in lots Nos. 89242 and 89245 from 14.4 
per cent before bleaching to 26.6 per cent after bleaching, and in 
lots Nos. 88672 and 88679 from 28 to 56 per cent, showing that the 
appearance of even badly bin-burned grain can be substantially 
raised by the bleaching process. 
By examining the table closely, several very interesting facts will 
be observed. The germination of oats is shown to be materially 
reduced by sulphur bleaching. The largest reduction is in sample 
No. 88087, which germinated 97.5 per cent before treating and 9.5 
per cent after treating, or a total reduction in germination of 88 per 
cent caused by sulphuring. In nearly every set of samples in this 
table, however, a large reduction will be noticed in the percentage 
germination of samples that have been sulphured. The fact that in 
almost every instance the bleaching of oats reduced the germination 
to some extent, and in some instances killed the power of germination 
entirely, is a serious factor whenever the grain is to be considered 
for seed. Thanks are due to the seed-testing laboratory of the Bureau 
of Plant Industry for making the germination tests. 
Too much attention can not be paid to the quality of seed, for the 
same amount of time, labor, and money is required to sow a field of 
oats, whether the viability of the seed oats be high or low, and the 
product will be influenced directly by the percentage germination of 
the seed. A casual observer is probably more likely to be misled as 
to the true quality of oats than of any other grain for seeding purposes, 
because oats that have been sulphured present a very bright, clean 
appearance; therefore special care must be taken to ascertain whether 
this appearance is due to bleaching by sulphur or whether it is natural. 
It is not an uncommon practice throughout the smaller oat-growing 
areas for farmers to use for seed, oats that have been purchased for 
feeding purposes, especially when these oats appear to be of good 
quality. Usually very poor yields are secured when this is done 
because these oats may have been sulphur bleached arjr) the con- 
