Whouled Milkweed 
21 
Ihe second question as to the period ot time which must 
elapse betore the sheading ot ihe seed and the time when germ- 
inaiion wnl begm, arose from certain observations in the held, 
/duio a close watch tor seedlings was maintained thruout the 
season of lUid, none were found in any appreciable quantities, 
'lire writer returned to the station at just about the time that 
seeus were being shed in IdlS, and no observations were made as 
to the appearance of seedlings in the early fall, but the lack of 
seedlings early in the year indicated a possibility that the seeds 
germinate in the fall as soon as they are blown from the plant 
if they stop in locations favorable as to moisture. The germina- 
tion tests in the fall of 1918 showed that this theory was entire- 
ly tenable. The germination, it will be noted, was rather low, 
but the lots started on September 17, 1918, and October 16, 1918, 
showed over 90 per cent, germination at the end of three weeks. 
The lots on September 17 were placed in the germinator about 
three weeks after being gathered from the field. 
It was at first thought probable that the dry summer of 1918 
prevented germination during the season but further observa- 
tions in 1919 seem to bear out the fall germination theory. Near 
experimental plots at Paonia, this particular phase was closely ob- 
served. hillside and basin below an irrigation ditch at this 
point are about 50 per cent, covered with milkweed. The soil sur- 
face at this place was moist enough to make a good seed bed dur- 
ing most of the summer season, but it was not until August 25th, 
about two weeks after the ripening of the first seeds in 1919, 
that any seedlings were found on unoccupied territory. On this 
date as many as eighteen seedlings per square foot of ground 
surface were counted, and they would average six to ten seedlings 
per square foot over a quarter of an acre. These seedlings 
showed in most cases only the two seed leaves, but before the 
summer was over, they were 3 or 4 inches high. It seems very 
probable that many of the seeds germinate in the fall immediate- 
ly after ripening. 
A search for an answer to the third question, however, seems 
to show that the seeds do not have to germinate in the fall. The 
table shows that both lots placed in the germinater on September 
22, 1919, gave a germination within five days of 98 per cent. This 
establishes the fact that seeds kept in a dry condition will retain 
their viability, absolutely unimpaired, for at least a year. Seeds 
are not usually kept dry in the field, however, and it is possible 
that the wetting during the winter months may, and undoubted- 
ly does, reduce the germination percentage. It is very possible 
