Abstract
THE seventh Conference of the British Association of Commercial Seed Analysts was held on July 21 at the National Institute of Agricultural Botany, Cambridge. The president, Mr. A. E. Birks, stated in his address that members are continuing to avail themselves of the facilities afforded by the Association, and during the year a number of interesting experiments were carried out by members working together. In one case, tests were made on a particularly difficult sample of asparagus kale in an endeavour to arrive at an equable result. The wide divergence in results obtained proves that there still remain factors governing the germination of this seed which are not fully understood. Mr. Harding gave an address on the comparison of soil and laboratory tests. He considers that soil tests properly carried out are of real value in estimating the maximum percentage of plantlets that can be obtained under field conditions. In some instances, when working upon new seeds, results from the laboratory and the soil tests are identical: greater differences occur when old seed is being tested. Finally, soil tests are certainly helpful when made in conjunction with the laboratory, as they assist in revealing discrepancies. The following officers were elected for the coming year: President, Mr. E. B. Wallace; Vice-President, Mr. A. E. Birks; Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. F. H. G. Neale, “Emmandee”, Hawthorn Gardens, Reading.
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British Association of Commercial Seed Analysts. Nature 130, 431–432 (1932). https://doi.org/10.1038/130431e0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/130431e0