The Seed in Plant Production 385 



localities upon the product that one will frequently hear 

 it stated that the failure to head properly is due to the fact 

 that the seed was not grown in either of these regions. 



Tomato seed are grown extensively in Michigan, and they 

 have been successfully produced in many parts of the North 

 and of the central West. On the other hand, the belief 

 is prevalent that tomatoes grown from seed produced 

 in the South rapidly deteriorate, and that in the course 

 of a few years the well-established and highly prized 

 varieties may revert to the common little-tomato type. 

 Here again there are no statistical data indicating that 

 these opinions have been formed as a result of any properly 

 controlled experiments. It is, for instance, quite possible 

 that by means of crossing between varieties, or by crossing 

 with the little-tomato type these reversions may be ac- 

 counted for. 



Tracy has reported that beans are promptly modified 

 by soil conditions, and that in general seed should be grown 

 on the type of soil for which they are intended. It is, 

 furthermore, an interesting fact that German and French 

 growers importing seed are often careful respecting the 

 climatic and soil conditions under which the seed are 

 grown. 



228. Maturity. Quality may also be affected by the 

 conditions which maintain just at the time the seed is 

 maturing or during the state of maturity. Too much 

 moisture at the time the seed is approaching this state 

 precludes a proper gradual ripening, and the final effect 

 is usually manifest in decreased vitality; that is, lessened 

 capacity to germinate, and this is true even if the seed 

 is subsequently dried and stored. The reduced vitality 

 2c 



