Cleaned, Treated and Tested Seed 
9 
Temperature and Germination. —'The temperature which is the 
most favorable to germination is not the same for the different kinds 
of seeds. Moreover, the highest temperature and the lowest temper¬ 
ature at which seeds germinate vary. For example, it is quite well 
known that cucumbers and melons require a higher temperature to 
germinate properly than wheat and barley and some other small 
cereals. 
Cool season crops, such as peas, lettuce, radish, small cereals, 
etc., will germinate readily at 50° to 60° F., while corn, pumpkin, 
cucumber, egg plant, and other warm season crops require a tem¬ 
perature of 70° to 80° F., to give fairly rapid germination. 
Oxygen and Germination. —All seeds require air (oxygen) in 
order to germinate. Seeds will not germinate when the soil is de¬ 
prived of air. If seeds are planted too deep in heavy clay soil, or 
in a soil that is too wet, they are quite likely to have a poor supply 
of air and to germinate slowly. 
Light and Germination. —A number of seeds germinate better in 
the light than in the darkness. The best known example of such a 
seed is Kentucky bluegrass. 
Conditions Affecting the Vitality of Seed. —It is a common 
observation that when a lot of seeds is placed under the most 
favorable conditions for germination a number of them fail to 
germinate. Some seeds are quick to germinate and form strong, vigor¬ 
ous seedlings. Others sprout but slowly and the young plants are 
weak and sickly. The farmer wants seeds which have a power to ger¬ 
minate readily and produce vigirous sprouts. In other words, he 
wants seeds of high vitality. 
There are many conditions which affect the vitality of seeds: 
1. Maturity. Although seeds will often germinate when they 
are not fully ripe, the plants from such are usually weak and cannot 
withstand unfavorable conditions. Moreover, the yield from im¬ 
mature seeds is always lower than from properlv matured seeds. 
Lack of maturity or low vitality in corn is usually indicated by soft 
ears, by any discoloration of the grain, especially at the tips, and by 
blisters on the skin. Immature corn quickly loses its germinating 
power. 
2. Age. All seeds gradually lose their viability with the lapse 
of time. The rate at which they lose their viability depends upon 
the kind of seeds and upon the condition of storage. As a rule, 
seeds retain their viability longest under low and equable tempera¬ 
ture and moisture conditions. Ordinary crop seeds lose their vi¬ 
tality rather quickly when stored under high temperatures and where 
the atmosphere is moist. 
Seeds containing oil, such as corn and flax, lose their vitality 
much earlier than starch-bearing seeds. The seeds of legumes are 
noted for their great longevity. Some have been known to retain 
their viability for 150 to 250 years. 
