50 
planting noted, and a fairly fertile soil, that large seed is ad- 
vantageous, but that under certain as yet illy-defined con- 
ditions, as shown by F. 10, single eyes may be equally as pro- 
ductive. 
In F. 8, single eyes were used, otherwise conditions as 
above noted. The same remark applies to F. 9. On FP. 8, 
however, the tops were mowed on July 17, when about 9 
inches tall. On F. 9, July 19, the tops were crushed down 
by running a hand roller over the field. 
Yield 
No. of Merch. " Unmerch 
plants. lbs. OZS. lbs. OZs. 
Pe +8. Si Gns TO Wit Seles es aie ....048 129 4 26 
F.9),. Tops rolled: downs Waive fae UN aoe 522 145 4. 35 0 
F. 7 and 10. Ordinary culture. Average.552 407 2 38 6 
We must hence surmise that the removal of, and the in- 
jury to the foliage was detrimental. 
In G. 6 and 7, a duplicate trial: 
Yield. 
' No. of Merch. Unmercb 
plants. lbs. OZS. lbs. ozs. 
GB. TOpR OW Oe i ck este ae Fea 582 170 0 51 4 
a ae stp i Pd yEiA eA Ds PUI hla ee Le) 186 8 50) 6 
Crh OTGIna ry CHIPUTE Lute Acar clare ana 583 370 8 112 0 
In G. 4 and 5, we have similar plantings and fertilization 
as above, but the single eyes placed in the one case, the cut 
side down; in the other, the cut side up. 
Yield. 
No. of Merch. Unmerch 
: plants. Ibs. ozs. Ibs. ozs. 
G 2A, \ Cutiside: down) nije ijscud ee 589 60 12 81 8 
Ore RATER VSNL! IND) cds cn! tint seen ae pease hee 74 8 97 12 
The effect of the drought is here so manifest in the re- 
duced yield, as to make the comparison unreliable. 
VITALITY OF SEEDS AS INFLUENCED BY AGE. 
In the practical germination of seeds, a great difference 
is often to be observed in the vitality represented by sprout- 
ing, as between different samples, an aged lot occasionally 
germinating a far better precentage than a fresher sample. 
Thus two germinations of turnip seed seven years old gave 
98 per cent. of growth, equaling the result to be expected 
from fresh seed; one sample nine years old gave 82 per 
cent. germination; one sample twelve years old gave 62 
per cent., and yet in the larger number of cases, samples of 
the extreme ages noted, fail to respond to thestimulus of 
moisture and temperature. Vilmorin gives ten years as 
