
os 
‘No.33] 105 
GERMINATIONS OF CommERoIAL SEED. 
The apparatus used in our germinations was the same as described 
in our second annual report, page 67, wherein fifty separate 
samples are kept under precisely similar conditions during the period 
of trial. As previous experiments all tend to indicate that a chang- 
ing temperature is more_potent than a uniform temperature, we 
paid but little attention to the temperature readings, the germinat- 
ing boxes being placed in a cupboard where the temperatures ranged 
from seventy to eighty-four® F. Except in the case of the larger 
seeds, of which the pockets of the apparatus would not contain the 
number, one hundred seeds were used, and those that sprouted were 
daily removed and the number recorded. In every case a duplicate 
trial was made, the two trials of a kind occupying adjoining pockets 
in the same box. As will be noted, a variation appeared in nearly 
every case between the duplicates. The seeds used for the trial 
were from one of our leading seedsmen, and the apparently perfect 
seed were counted from the packets in which they came. The ger- 
mination trials were continued in general until the seeds had either 
all sprouted or become rotten, and when any remained sound at the 
conclusion of the trials, such are recorded by number in their ap- 
propriate column. In the case of the beet family each seed case was 
counted as a seed. . 
It is probable that each species of seed, perhaps also some of the 
varieties, have one temperature at which the best results for ger- 
mination occur, and unless these temperatures are quite nearly main- 
tained we should not expect duplicate results as between ger- 
minations made at different times and under different circumstances 
of temperatures. We made, as will be seen, some duplicate trials, 
the germination boxes being dispersed in different rooms. In peas, 
for instance, eleven varieties,of which nine were two years old and 
two three years old, gave the following figures. 
Largest Least Average 
- F germ germ germ 
9 var. 2 yrs. old percent. per cent percent 
Germ. temp. 70°-84°. One series...... 88 20 60 
Duplicate....... 96 22 64 
Germ. temp. 65°—75°. One series..... . 100 48 83 
a plicatess iiss. 100 56 88 
2 var. 3 yrs. old. 
Germ. temp. 70°-84°. One series...... 98522 72 85 
ETIPSCALG ere cons 100 64 ° 82 
Germ. temp. 65°-75°. One series...... 100 92 96 
Duplicate sce: s: 92 88 94 
This table makes it appear as if before germination tests can be 
made of seedsmen’s seeds, we must know the temperatures for best 
growth of each species, and our trials must be made within some as- 
certained limit of temperature before we can assume to sit in judg- 
ment over germinative qualities. 
[Assem. Doc. No. 33.] 14 
