Show Increase Germination I of Seed See l t by y Cleaning More Thorough Scarifying Decreases Hard Kernels Cleaning and scarifying of alfalfa seed prior to planting Increased the germination 23 per cent ent and greatly Increased increased increased in In- creased the purity of the seed according according accord accord- ing to results secured by 0 O. O A. A Stevens seed analyst at the North Dakota Agricultural Ag college In tests conducted during the past year year with wIth 90 00 samples sample of alfalfa Germination of the samples priori prior to scarifying and cleaning averaged 57 per cent with 39 30 hard seeds After cleaning find and scarifying the germination germination germina germina- tion averaged 78 per cent and the number of hard seeds was cut down to 20 More thorough scarification would further d decrease crease the number of hard seeds ce s. s The amount of pure seed in the samples prior to cleaning averaged 92 02 per cent and anti after cleaning 07 97 per cent Herd liard seeds that Is seeds seed which neither germinate nor rot constitute a problem peculiar to the legumes al alfalfa alfalfa al- al falfa sweet clover white red and alsike al- al sike clovers Mr Stevens declares Water Vater fails foils to penetrate the seed coats and the seeds may lie dormant In the ground for long Jong periods of time often several years ears Frequently samples samples sam safe ples pies of alfalfa and sweet clover contain contain con con- tain taro up to 75 per cent of this hard seed To m make ke these seeds germinate the they are usually scarified that Is the coats are arc scratched h by some mechanical mechanical ical means so that the moisture can canet get et through them Occasionally samples samples samples sam sam- ples of alfalfa and sweet clover er may show high germination without scarification scarification cation cotlon but hut and farmers now make It a rule to scarify their seed before before before be be- fore planting especially If using varieties varieties varie varie- ties of high value |