THE LARGE SEED FACTOR IB CHOP PRODUCTION. 

 Introduction 



The question of larger yields is a very vital one with the 

 farmer of to-day. In many oases more than is realized "by the 

 farmers themselves do the profits depend upon the last refine- 

 ments in efficient production. Therefore any factor that gives 

 larger returns for practically the same effort merits attention. 

 Such a factor is the influence of large heavy seed in crop pro- 

 duction. 



In opening his discussion of experiments with wheat in which 

 some of the advantages of large plump seed were demonstrated, Dr. 

 1. A. Cobb (1) remarks that any effort to prove the lower value 

 of small seed will be regarded by many as an effort to kill a 

 dead horse; but as long as there exist among us advocates of 

 small seed, and the bulk of wheat growers use poor seed, it will 

 be necessary to harp on the superior value of large seed. 



It is the intent of this paper to deal principally with 

 the large seed factor as applying to cereals, especially wheat; 

 but from time to time reference is made to experiments with 

 other plants to show that the principle applies not alone to 

 the cereals. 



There has been no attempt to make an exhaustive survey 

 of the field, either as regards the literature or as a dis- 

 cussion of the subject. 



The one definite objective of the experimental part of 

 the task has been to secure some experimental ground as a 

 basis for the assumption that the extra development of the 

 plants from large seed is due to the additional supply of 



endosperm available to the germinating plantlet. 



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