Table 4.—Germination of Ten Samples of Turnips.
| No. | Copy of Label. | Came up per cent. | No. of Days. | ||||||
| 1 | Green Globe | 62 | 8 | - | Turnips from sample papers communicated. | ||||
| 2 | Dale’s Hybrid | 84 | 4 | ||||||
| 3 | Red Globe | 90 | 6 | ||||||
| 4 | Orange Jelly | 100 | 4 | ||||||
| 5 | White round, or Norfolk | 42 | 5 | ||||||
| 6 | Green Tankard | 50 | 6 | ||||||
| 7 | Scarisbrick (sic) | 88 | 11 | ||||||
| 8 | White Globe | 74 | 4 | ||||||
| 9 | Golden Yellow | 82 | 4 | ||||||
| 10 | Green round | 30 | 6 | ||||||
| Came up | = | 70 | ·2 | ||||||
| Failed | = | 29 | ·8 | ||||||
The specimens in next table were obtained in like manner as those of [Table 4].
Table 5.—Germination of Samples of Common and Swede Turnips.
| No. | Copy of Label. | Came up per cent. | No. of Days. | ||||||
| 1 | White Stone or Stubble | 46 | 6 | - | Swedes and Turnips from sample papers communicated. | ||||
| 2 | Red Tankard | 60 | 5 | ||||||
| 3 | White Tankard | 60 | 4 | ||||||
| 4 | Yellow Tankard | 88 | 5 | ||||||
| 5 | Green Top Yellow Scotch | 84 | 6 | ||||||
| 6 | Purple Top ditto | 62 | 8 | ||||||
| 7 | Tankard-shaped Swede | 74 | 7 | ||||||
| 8 | White-fleshed ditto | 84 | 8 | ||||||
| 9 | Skirving’s Improved Purple Top ditto | 64 | 8 | ||||||
| 10 | Lawhead Green Top | 80 | 7 | ||||||
| Came up | = | 70 | ·2 | ||||||
| Failed | = | 29 | ·8 | ||||||
Of these samples we see that within a fraction of 30 per cent. is the average of non-germinating seeds, and this is only so low on account of two or three unusually good samples, the general range being from 20 to 30 per cent. of non-germinating seeds for the last twenty samples.
If we compare No. 5, [Table 2], with No. 4, [Table 4], we see a difference in the Orange Jelly Turnip; in the former little more than half came up, in the latter every seed. This is of importance, as showing what genuine seed may be, the latter being doubtless as unmixed as the former was mixed.
Now as regards the charge of mixing, we are not going to make it without some evidence. In looking over the tables we have now given, it will be seen that genuine seed has but a small per-centage of non-germinating seeds—say from 5 to 10 per cent.; but not only the examples herein referred to, with hosts of separate ones which have fallen under our notice, show a general amount of dead seeds, of from 20 to 30 per cent. For these figures compare [Table 1] with [Tables 2], [3], [4], and [5]. In those of the first lot the samples were sent direct to us from a seedsman, and their behaviour shows us clearly enough that good seeds are to be obtained, but the other tables are as clear that from some seedsmen, at any rate, though inferior samples, they are as good as are actually sold.
That seeds are mixed we have, then, good internal evidence; but we are also in possession of facts more conclusive upon this important point, and we shall in this next chapter endeavour to enlighten our readers as to the art and mystery (especially) of turnip-seed adulteration.
Confining our present remarks to turnip seeds, we assert that if farmers will try the germinating powers from the bulk of the seed which may be sent to them, they will find pretty nearly one-third to be rubbish. It is of no use to try from samples, except in comparison with bulk; and if all the farmers of Great Britain did this, and would communicate the results, what an extraordinary tale would be unfolded, more especially if the evidence be completed by notes on the purity or otherwise of the crop grown from such seeds!