ENVIRONMENT OF SEEDS AND CROP PRODUCTION 



BYRON D. HALSTED and EARLE J. OWEN 



New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, New Brunswick, New Jersey 



In this paper are given the results of a series of tests carried 

 out for the purpose of determining the effect which might be 

 exerted on germination and early growth by placing seeds in 

 different positions, and also the relative viability and vigor of 

 seeds from different positions in the pod. Seeds of the Scarlet 

 Runner bean were employed in all of the tests because of their 

 large size and favorable flat shape. Only three positions of the 

 seeds were tested, namely (1) laid flat, (2) with the eye up, (3) 

 with the eye down. The depth of planting was uniformly 2 

 inches below the surface, and special care was taken to have the 

 center of gravity of each seed, however placed, level with the 

 surface of the soil, after which the cover of fine earth was added 

 and the top of the bed brought to a level by means of a straight- 

 edge. 



There were six plantings in duplicate, making in all 4050 seeds. 

 The varying conditions during the winter made some differences 

 among the six sets of experiments, but all of the seed-positions 

 were treated alike, and are strictly comparable. At the same 

 time a test was made of the relative value for planting of seeds 

 from pods with two, three and four seeds respectively and also 

 of the bearing of the position of the seeds in the pod upon their 

 viability and vigor. 



All the tests were made during the period extending from 

 November 21, 1916 to March 12, 1917. No record of the soil 

 temperature was made during the first series, but it was compar- 

 able with that for the last one. It is noted that the Scarlet Run- 

 ner seeds are sensitive to the soil heat, and the viability falls 

 rapidly with the temperature, for example from 92.9% in early 

 December to 76.0% in February (18.1°C.) and arose again to 

 94.2% in March (21.5°C.) 



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