CHE REFERENCE LIBRARY - Pole Shift Survival Information

24 THE NIJRSER~‘-,lilANTJAI,
Seeds should be thoroughly ripe and dry before they are
stored. Those of pulpy fruits are removed and cleaned. If
the seed-vessels are dry and hard, seeds may be left in them
till sowing time, but usuall~r they are removed.
Hard seeds, as of trees and nuts, may be buried as explained
on page 35. Most seeds, however, are stored dry in paper
bags or boxes in a cool dry room. The receptacles should be
tight to keep out weevils ; if there are any signs of bug work,
a little bisulfide of carbon may be poured in the receptacle,
and the vapor of it will destro>- animal life. This material is
inflammable, and it should be kept away from flames.
If seeds at storing time are moist and the weather is damp,
they may be lightly kiln-dried before put away for winter.
liarely are dry seeds injured by freezing. Seedsmen sometimes
keep large and more or less fleshy seeds, as musas, in fine dry
sawdust, chafl’ or other material tha.t will insure equable conditions
and prevent too great desiccation.
w.
9
SEEWTESTING
V%le it is not the province of this Manual to discuss t.he
question of the te’sting of seeds, a few hints on the subject may
be acceptable, particularly in the bearing of the remarks on
seed-sowing. Seed-testing is for two purposes : to determine
the germinating power or growing power of the seeds ; to
discover the purity or quality of the sample in respect to
admixtures, weed st~ls, foreign materials and adulteration,
a process often cnlled “ seecl i~ntll~~sis.”
lksti11g for ~ciability
Germination is complete when the plantlet begins to assume
true leaves and to appropriate food directly from the soil.
The testing of seeds is not always concerned with germination,
but with the simple sprouting of the samples. Many seeds