— 44 — 
power of the seed could have been formed by the end of 
the third day, as the following shows :— 
THE NUMBER OF SEEDS WHICH HAD EITHER ROTTED OR SPROUTED 
AT THE END OF THE THIRD DAY. 
Per cent. 
Prime seed, two years old. 
Prime seed, six years old. 
First quality screenings, one year old 
“ “ “ two 
“ “ “ three “ “ 
Second “ “ two 
Third “ “ one “ “ 
.. . .87.00 
.... 80.50 
.... 84.00 
... .85.00 
.... 85.00 
_85.00 
.... 93.00 
There is a considerable difference in the readiness with 
which the different samples of the same age germinate, 
more even than between samples of different ages. The 
quickest of the eleven samples to germinate was the one 
six years old. The results are positive in showing that the 
age of the seed up to six years old does not effect their 
germinating power. In regard to the vitality of the plants 
produced, I have made no observations, but so far as I 
could judge from the vigor with which the seeds sprouted, 
I would say that it depended upon the seeds themselves 
rather than upon their age; the seeds of some samples 
being obviously stronger than those of others, and each 
sample showed this difference between the individual seeds. 
These tests and observations also strengthen the claim 
made that in practice screenings produce as satisfactory re¬ 
sults as prime seed. Taking it on the basis of the germi¬ 
nating power in the most unfavorable sample, second 
quality screenings two years old, with only 38 per cent, ger¬ 
minating, we have, where twenty pounds of seed are sown 
to the acre, 1,325,532 plants, and assuming that one-seventh 
of them live, there would be 189,361 plants to the acre, or 
over four to the square foot, a sufficient number surely to 
produce a maximum crop. It sometimes happens that it is 
necessary to re-sow a field the second year, even with 
twenty-two pounds of seed per acre. Such failures are not due 
to the quantity of seed nor to the germinating power. I do 
not believe that it would happen oftener with eleven 
pounds to the acre than it does with twenty. It is not my 
province to seek the causes of such failures, but I think I 
have* adduced sufficient proof that it does not lie in the 
germinating power of the seed. 
ROOTS OF ALFALFA. 
That this plant is an exceptionally deep rooting one, 
has been recognized by every writer on the subject, as is evi- 
