218 



BARTLE T. HARVEY 



B. SEED FROM VIRGINIA CREEPER 



The twenty largest seeds were chosen from the ten largest 

 berries and planted one-fourth inch deep in a mixture of sandy 

 quartz and loam soil. From three to six seeds occurred in each 

 berry. It was a noticeable fact that the seeds from the bird 

 excrements were larger on the average than those taken from 

 the Virginia creeper berries. Of course, it is quite possible that 

 the two classes of seeds did not come from the same vine. 

 Again, it might have been due to the birds naturally choosing 

 the largest berries for food. 



The seeds from both vine and excrement were planted on 

 February 20, 1914, and examined on March 24, 1914, thirty- 

 three days later. The following table indicates the results ob- 

 tained, being based on a planting of twenty seeds from each 

 of the above mentioned sources. 



Referring to the foregoing table, it can be seen at a glance 

 that the seeds taken from the bird excrement gave a higher 

 percentage of good plants, a lower percentage of poor plants, 

 and a higher total percentage of germination than did those 

 seeds which came from a living plant. Again, the best developed 

 plant from bird excrement seed measured 2\ inches in height, 

 while the best developed plant from the Virginia Creeper berry 



