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CROPS, GRAIN !

SEED GRAIN TESTING

Data for this article supplied by courtesy of a Dominion Department of Agriculture Seed Branch,
innipeg

For further information on this subject write to your nearest Agricultural College or
Experimental Farm

ISSUED BY

EATON’S FARM NEWS SERVICE
WINNIPEG

{ = PF maximum production of grain of good quality the first consideration should be

to secure the best seed obtainable. Strong vitality is the first essential in seed

of any kind. Yields are often greatly reduced and the quality of the crop lowered
by the use of seed which fails to give a good stand of strong, vigorous plants which
are able to withstand unfavorable conditions. During ripening, harvesting and curing,
grain and other seed crops are liable to injury from various causes which may greatly
lower or entirely destroy their value for seed.

The injury to grain, from the standpoint of its suitability
for seed, is measured by the extent to which its vitality or
strength of growth has been impaired. In the case of oats,
it is only by a germination test that vitality can be deter-
mined. It is always advisable to test the vitality of seed,
because grain that is plump and otherwise apparently of ex-
cellent vitality may be entirely unfit for seeding purposes,
Seed that is badly shrivelled from any cause should not be
used if it can be avoided, as the kernels have not sufficient
reserve food stored within them to nourish the young plants
until they get a good start. Shrivelled seeds may produce
plants under favorable conditions, but at best they will be
weak, and if they encounter adverse conditions they are not
likely to live.

The energy of germination or vitality of seed is indicated
by the result of a germination test. The reports show the
percentage of vital seeds, and, what is equally important, the
energy of germination or the power of seed to respond quickly
to growth conditions. Two samples may have nearly the
same percentage of vital seeds and yet produce a widely
different proportion of strong plants in the field. The ability
of a seed to produce a vigorous plant, even under adverse
conditions, is dependent on its energy of germination, which
is indicated by a germination test.

CAUSES OF LOW VITALITY

Among the most common causes of low vitality in farm
seeds are frost, immaturity, weathering, heating, improper
curing, mould and must.

Oats—The most common cause of low vitality is frost
injury. One or two degrees of frost in the milk stage is suf-
ficient to ruin oats for seed. Frozen oats are difficult to detect from external appearance.

Wheat—Frost injury is more apparent in wheat than in any other grain, being
evidenced in severe cases by shrunken and discolored kernels. Wheat that is fairly
well matured before being frozen is usually very little injured.

Barley—Barley is more easily injured by weathering than other grains. Insufficient
drying is a common cause of low germination. Frost injury is often indicated by a
anes or shrunken appearance, and by a loosened hull easily broken away from the

ernel.

Corn—tThe vitality of corn is liable to be impaired by a great variety of causes.
It is very susceptible to frost injury before becoming mature. It requires to be
thoroughly dried and stored with good ventilation; failure in this may result in injury
to the vitality through severe freezing’ in Winter, heating when shelled, or the develop-
ment of moulds. The only reliable means of determining the vitality of corn is by a
germination test.

The seeding value of many samples of grain is greatly lowered through the presence
of a large proportion of small, immature or shrunken kernels and weed seeds. Oats
aspecially often contain a high percentage of light, green kernels. - While these may
be vital, their energy of germination is weak and they will not produce strong plants in
the field. Shelled corn usually contains a large number of inferior kernels from the
butts and tips.

All grain intended for seed should be thoroughly screened. A pamphlet, “Cleaning

Seed,” may be had free, on application to The Publications Branch, Department of
Agriculture, Ottawa.

SEED TESTS

It pays to test your seed before you sow it. In the Spring of 1925 a Manitoba

farmer sent in a sample of oats to the Seed Branch, which upon being tested rE