COFFEYVILLE, INDEPENDENCE, AND HARPER, KANSAS 
FED« 
: _PROCESSING PLANT. 
HARD SEED FACTS 
1. Hard Seeds are those which have seed coats that do not absorb water, therefore, are not likely to germinate 
immediately after sowing. 
2. The best ripened seed contains the most hard seed. 
3. The percentage of hard seed in a lot may increase with reduction in moisture content. 
4. Fifty per cent of the hard seed of some kinds such as Alfalfa usually germinates within 2 weeks. 
5. One advantage of hard seed is that it does not all grow at the same time. 
6. Hard seeds furnish insurance in getting stands. 
7. Commercial seed contains less hard seed than seed when harvested because of scarifying effect of hulling 
many seeds. 
8. Scarifying is not recommended unless seed is to be sown soon. 
Seeds which do not germinate are not necessarily dead seeds. Some go through a period of dormancy which 
may extend from the time of ripening for a few weeks or many months. 
A common kind or dormancy with cultivated leguminous crops is that of “hard seed.” Hard seeds are those not 
capable of absorbing water. Since both oxygen and water are required for germination, hard seeds do not germi- 
nate readily. 
Various factors influence the percentage of hard seed in a given lot of leguminous seeds. The variety, state of 
maturity, weather or some other factor may affect it. 
In sowing Alfalfa at 10 pounds per acre, more than 2,000,000 seeds are sown or approximately 50 seeds per 
square foot. An equal seeding of red clover will place about 75 seeds per square foot. In both cases this is 
much more than needed to obtain a good stand. 
State Agricultural Experiment stations recognize that hard seeds are not detrimental to obtaining stands as shown 
by the following comments. 
From Oregon—"We do not regard hard seed as a handicap of any kind. In most cases it is an advantage to 
have hard seed because it furnishes what amounts to insurance in getting stands. Under field conditions many of 
the seeds which grade as hard in the laboratory germinate rather promptly.” 
From lowa—''Hard seeds usually germinate soon enough after planting in the field to justify their inclusion with 
readily germinable seeds in determining rates of seeding.” 
The above was copied from the National Farm & Garden bureau Clip- 
ping Sheet No. 4. Edited by W. A. Wheeler, Forage & Seed Specialist. 
FRAZIERS SEED CO., INC. COFFEYVILLE, KANSAS 
