42 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.41 



trees and ornamentals as well as weather observations for the year are re- 

 ported. 



Studies on heredity and environment, B. D. Halsted {New Jersey Stas. Rpt. 

 1917, pp. S72S94).— Studies on heredity and environment (E. S. R., 39, p. 746) 

 were continued with com, beans, soy beans, peas, and tomatoes. 



Several Fi corn crosses were tested to determine the relation of ear type in 

 the Fi to the character of the following crop. Some results are given for two 

 crosses, but no general deductions have thus far been made from the accumu- 

 lated data. 



Six types of corn kernels were used in a test of the influence of depth of 

 planting upon viability of the seeds and vigor of the plants. Samples of the 

 corn were planted at depths ranging from 1 to 8 in. The number of kernels 

 failing increased uniformly to 4 in., rose rapidly to nearly 50 per cent at 6 in., 

 and still more rapidly at the maximum depth of 8 in., where the viability was 

 only 28.7 per cent. Large kernels were more viable at great depth than small 

 kernels, and field corn was m-ore viable than sweet corn. The several depths 

 did not seem to exert much influence upon the length of the stalks. Suckers 

 were more numerous in tlie deeply planted rows and next in the shallow planted 

 rows. Suckers were more numerous in rows planted with floury kernels than 

 with rows planted with either flinty or sweet kernels. Sweet corn suckered 

 least. Suckers were more numerous from large grains at each depth. 



With five varieties of beans planted at depths of from 1 to 4 in., there was a 

 large decrease in plants from the 3-in. depth and still more from the maxim-um 

 depth. The 1-in. depth gave somewhat more plants than the 2-in. depth. Simi- 

 lar differences were noted in the percentage of seed viability. The number of 

 pods per plant did not vary gi-eatly among the four depths of planting. The 

 Henderson Lima beans gave the greatest yield from? seed planted 3 in. deep, 

 whereas the four varieties of field beans tested declined in yield as the plant- 

 ing depth increased. The viability of soy beans was nearly the same for all 

 depths excepting the 4-in. depth, where it was only 56 per cent. 



Some results are given of a preliminary test conducted with soy beans to 

 determine whether a somewhat constant relationship exists betAveen the posi- 

 tion of the seed in the pod and its weight, size, and value for cropping. The 

 largest crop of pods came from the seeds borne at the tip of 3-seeded pods 

 and the lowest yield from seeds at the base of the same pods. Seed from 

 2-seeded pods averaged the highest yield of pods, and seed from 1-seeded pods 

 the lowest. A high percentage of 1-ovuled 1-seeded pods was associated with the 

 crops from 1-seeded pods and the basal ends of 3-seeded pods. The highest 

 percentage of 2-ovuled 2-seeded pods was associated with the crops from 

 2-seeded pods with both the basal and tip seeds. The highest percentage of 

 3-ovuled 3-seeded pods was associated with the crops from tipped seeds of 

 3-seeded pods. The test indicates that, if possible, it might be well before 

 planting to eliminate the basal seeds from the 3-seeded pods and all 1-seeded 

 pods. 



The yield of seeds was best in the 3-seeded tip crop and poorest from the 

 3-seeded basal crop. For pods as a whole the best average yield of seed was 

 from the 2-seeded pods and the poorest from the 1-seeded pods. Among the 

 full pods the heaviest seed was in the 1-seeded pods, the weight diminishing 

 as the pods increased in number of seeds. In pods containing more than 1 

 seed the tip seeds were heavier than those at the base. In 3-seeded pods the 

 middle seed was somewhat heavier than the tip seed. Abortiveness was much 

 more frequent in the basal ovules than in the tip ovules, and was in positive 

 correlation with weight of seed. 



