SEEDS AND CROP PRODUCTION 297 



When considered as to the position in the pod the heaviest 

 seeds show the greatest \dabiUty and produce seedhngs of greatest 

 vigor, while the hghtest seeds (again with a shght exception) 

 show the least ^dability and \dgor. 



Observations. The above results indicate that the common 

 practice of dropping the seeds flat upon the soil is satisfactory. 

 The comparatively smaller seeds when borne two in a pod are 

 superior in viability and vigor, and the middle seeds (from 3- 

 and 4-seeded pods) outrank all others in weight. 



Both number of seeds and their position in the pod are environ- 

 mental factors that influence the crop-producing value of the 

 seeds. If the selection of seeds for planting is with pods only, 

 the first choice is those bearing two seeds. If only position in 

 the pod is considered the middle seeds are chosen, but if both pod 

 and position are regarded the tip seeds in two-seeded pods are 

 superior to all others and the second choice is the third seed 

 from the base in 4-seeded pods, followed closely by seeds from the 

 other two middle positions. 



The second seed from the base is always of high grade and may 

 be exceeded by the one next above when the pod has four seeds. 



