The viability of a seed is its capacity to live after maturity, and its dormant period is the time required for the seed to germinate after being planted. A great deal of investigation has been carried on for many years past to determine the viability of seeds; more especially of cultivated seeds of the farm and garden, but not so much attention has been given to weed seeds. In 1897 Mr. C. R. Ball of this college published an article on Seed Testing; Its Importance, History and Some Results, With a Partial Bibliography. This article contains a long and valuable bibliography referring to all the most important literature before 1897
