319 



tions were made from these forms arid a further study will be made of 

 tliem both for hardiness and as to, fitness for medicinal use. 



Prelimiuavy work has been done on seed selection with several forms 

 of Digitalis. Seed tests of light and heavy seeds obtained by means of 

 the apparatus preAiously mentioned have given striking results in the 

 early stages of seedling growth as shown by the accompanying photo- 

 graphs. The following data will indicate the accuracy of this method of 

 seed selection and the uniformity in the seeds separated. It also demon- 

 strates the practical value of the method if applied to the commercial 

 production of digitalis leaves. Seeds collected from the foregoing plants 

 of Digitalis purpurea L. were separated into light, medium and heavy. 

 The extreme smallness of these seeds made it necessary to use five hun- 

 dred seeds from each separation for weighings. Seeds of Digitalis grandi- 

 flora Lam. obtained from Henry A. Dreer of Philadelphia were also sep- 

 arated, weighed and tested. These were heavy enough to be weighed in 

 one hundred lots and were of such unitormity that they were only sep- 

 arated into light and heavy portions. 



The following table includes the results of these separations and 

 weighings : 



Dlffitalis purpurea. 



Light. Medium. Heavy. 



500 seeds 500 seeds 500 seeds 



0.0217 gm. 0.0253 gm. 0.0341 gm. 



Dii/itdlis (innuliponi. 



Light. Heavy. 



100 seeds O.OKIS gm. 100 seeds 0.0215 gm. 



100 seeds 0.01(17 gm. 100 seeds 0.0223 gm. 



100 seeds O.OKil gm. 100 seeds 0.0223 gm. 



100 seeds O.OKil gm 100 seeds 0.0215 gm. 



100 seeds 0.0104 gm. 100 seeds 0.0217 gm. 



Total 0.0S21 gm. Total 0. 1093 gm. 



In conclusion it is only necessary to say that the application of these 

 methods of breeding and the possibilities in drug plant improvement herein 

 suggested should be extended until they include such valuable forms j^s 



