252 VEGETABLE FORCING 



after applying moisture to the seeds. The differences in weight arc 

 shown in the table that follows: 



WEIGHT OF EMBRYOS 

 Relative Weights of 15 Seeds During Germination 



"The greater weight of the embryos of the large seed should be 

 associated with the greater weight of mature plants, as noted in a 

 preceding table. It seemed also desirable to correlate the matter of 

 greater weight with that of the relative sizes of embryos; con- 

 sequently there is added another table showing their measurements. 



SIZE OF EMBRYOS 



Days Number Large Medium Small 



after of Width of Length of Width of Length of Width of Length of 



germi- measure- leaves, embryo, leaves, embryo, leaves, embryo, 



nation ments mm. mm. mm. mm. mm. mm. 



1 15 7.3 25 6.9 24 5.6 21 



2 15 7.4 33 6.6 .27 5.5 21 



3 15 7.3 41 6.3 32 5.3 22 



4 30 7.4 43 6.8 36 5.5 31 



5 30 7.7 47 7.2 39 5.9 27 



"Beginning with the first day after germination, and continuing 

 for five days, it was found that the embryos of large seeds have 

 wider and longer leaves than those of small seeds, while the embryos 

 of medium-sized seeds are of intermediate dimensions. If plants 

 are larger from their start, and even before germination, it is to 

 be expected that they will continue to prove superior in size as they 

 develop. 



"Observations have shown that radishes grown from large seed 

 attain the edible stage sooner than those grown from small seed. 

 It was thought that on this account they might contain more water ; 

 hence a number of plants were trimmed as for eating and their dry- 

 matter contents determined : 



