would provide positive protection against in- 
sects, elements, breakage, and loss of ger- 
mination. Such a container is available to- 
day as optional packaging for all Keystone 
garden seed. It is the LIFEGARD tin can. 
In 1939, research was begun at Corneli to 
develop a process whereby seeds could be 
hermetically sealed in cans. We originally 
felt the need of such a package for ship- 
ments of garden seed to and through tropi- 
cal areas, where seed in ordinary containers 
sometimes lost germination in just a few 
weeks. 
By 1944, the process had been worked out 
and proven experimentally. Shipments of 
canned seed began, and the results as- 
tounded everyone. Germinations stayed at 
high level for years, even when the seed 
was subjected to high temperatures. Since 
then, the use of Keystone seeds in tin cans 
has become firmly established in tropical 
countries throughout the world, as well as 
in our own Southern and Central states. 
Many dealers and users of seed now would 
not think of taking delivery in another type 
of container. 
During these years of testing and commer- 
cial use, the process has been perfected and 
refined. Early in 1956 we named it the 
LIFEGARD process and registered this 
name in the U. S. Patent Office. 
This giant dehumidifying system dries the entire 
fifth floor of our Chouteau Avenue warehouse. 
ae 
Seed moisture content, formerly tested in our lab- 
oratory, is now checked at the point of packaging, 
for greatest accuracy. 
LIFEGARD is the pioneer process for pack- 
ing seeds in hermetically sealed cans, and 
is the only one proven safe and effective by 
almost twenty years of testing and commer- 
cial use. 
The basis of the process is moisture control. 
Before being canned, the seed is dried to a 
certain super-safe moisture level, the exact 
percentage of moisture allowed depending 
on the species. This drying, combined with 
several other pre-canning operations, makes 
each LIFEGARD can virtually an insect- 
free, bone-dry “warehouse.” Only extreme 
heat can cause premature loss of germina- 
tion in seeds packed by this process. 
Retention of high initial vigor is an even 
more important feature of the LIFEGARD 
process than is long shelf life. The grower 
who buys the seed knows that its vitality has 
not been depleted by exposure to excessive 
moisture, in the atmosphere or in the seed 
itself. 
The immense popularity of Keystone seed 
in cans has made this a large volume opera- 
tion, enabling us to offer LIFEGARD seed 
at just a few pennies a pound more than 
seed in conventional cloth bags. Our latest 
cans are beautifully lithographed in four 
colors, and each one bears a label with a 
color picture and description of the variety 
it contains. 
