106 LIVING PLANTS 



and the increased growth was found to be 

 correlated with decrease in amount of repro- 

 duction. Th'^re are, however, methods of in- 

 crease in rate of growth, arising from causes 

 inherent within the organism, that tend in 

 quite a different direction, in fact, are opposed 

 Size to those already cited. The best illustration, 



of seeds g^^^ ^^^ only one to be given in this article, is 

 that shown by the size of seeds. It may be 

 stated as a general law that large seeds pro- 

 duce stronger plants with a greater capacity 

 for reproduction than small seeds of the same 

 kind. 



That larger seeds produce stronger plants, 

 that is, plants possessing both heavier veg- 

 etative parts and larger yield of fruit, can be 

 shown by abundant experimental data. 



To be sure there is quite a common belief 

 that the size of the seed has no material effect 

 upon the product; that, provided a due re- 

 gard be paid to vitality, any size of seed will 

 answer the purpose of propagation. This be- 

 lief is one of long standing, and is also held 

 by some men of eminence. Sir Joseph Banks, 

 one of the leaders in agriculture of a hundred 

 years ago, advocated the use of small seed as 

 answering the purpose of the farmer "as effect- 

 ually as the largest." He had wheat especial- 

 ly in mind, and as the largest grains contain 

 the most flour, the use of the large instead of 



