SEED SELECTION AXD GROWING 45 



lower than this figure. As to the relative value of 

 new seed and that two years old or more, it may 

 be stated in a general way that fresh seed gives 

 the best results. Generally speaking, experiments 

 indicate that fresh seed should be used when it is 

 desired to produce plants with a strong leaf growth. 



Large or. small seed. Experiments reported by 

 G. W. Churchill* for the years 1887-1888 show the 

 results of planting large and small seed of Golden 

 Wax beans. The yields both years favored the 

 large seed. The plants which vegetated from each 

 class of seed were counted each season daily from 

 June 3 to July 2. Similar observations were made 

 on Boston Dwarf and Early Aroostook beans. It 

 was found that at first the small seed vegetated 

 more rapidly, but that after a few days the plants 

 from the large seed were more vigorous. 



Bean breeding is an interesting subject but has 

 not as yet reached a state of fixed principles, so far 

 as the commercial bean grower is concerned. How- 

 ever, a few principles have been established which 

 serve as a general aid to the farmer. Perhaps there 

 are no plants more tractable in the hands of experi- 

 enced bean breeders than beans. As in other plant 

 breeding the ideal is established first of all. The 

 breeder revolves the proposition in his mind and 

 eliminates all the impractical and contradictory ele- 

 ments of it. Then he goes carefully through his 

 bean fields, noting particularly those individual plants 

 like the desired ideal and marks those plants 

 which most nearly approach this ideal. The seeds 

 of these plants are saved and planted in iso- 

 lated positions. If the grower finds no promising 



"N Y State Rpt 1899, pp 364-368. 



