All of the genetic factors, maternal environment, storage conditions, collecting methods and the degree of maturity, moisture content, size, shape and colour of seeds can affect hardseed percentage.
Sjarel Ex, the museum's director, could have built a storage facility in a suburb, but wanted a way to keep the trove on site, and to open it to the public.
" I'd vote for going back and getting something from the larder, only there doesn't seem to be any certainty of getting into this country again when once you've got out of it. "
Before the winter, they wanted to take a lot of food south, and leave it in depots. For the long journey to the Pole, they needed a lot of food, and they couldn't carry it all with them.