REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS OF PLANTS. 345 



produced 10 ears, that contained in the aggregate 688 

 kernels. The finest 10 ears that could be selected from 

 the whole produce of the other 86 grains yielded but 

 598 kernels. The 79 kernels of the one best ear were 

 planted as before, and the produce of the finest seed, as 

 shown by the harvest, was used for the next year's sow- 

 ing. The results of continuing this process of selection 

 are tabulated below : 



Number of 



Length, Containing, ears on 



Year. inches. grains. finest stool. 



1857. Original 4f 47 



1858. Finest ear, 6J 79 10 



1859. Finest ear 7| 91 22 



1860. Ears imperfect from wet season, ... 39 



1861. Finest ear, gf 123 52 



In five years, accordingly, the length of the ears was 

 doubled, their contents nearly trebled, and the tillering 

 capacity of tbe plant increased five-fold. (Journal Royal 

 Ag. Soc., XXII, p. 374.) 



Wollny has given account of 27 garden trials, with 

 large and small seeds of rye, buckwheat, beans, vetches, 

 peas, lupins, soybeans, colza, mustard, maize, and red- 

 clover, on plats of four square meters (43 sq. ft.), during 

 the years 1873 to 1880, with the nearly invariable results : 

 1, that the quantity of crop increases with the size of 

 the seed ; 2, that the large seed produces principally 

 large seed, and the small seed small ; 3, that the relative 

 productiveness of the small seed is greater than that of 

 the large ; and 4, that the vitality of the plants from 

 small seed is usually less than that of the plants from 

 large seed. 



The facts of experience fully justify the conclusion 

 that, in general, other things being equal, the heaviest 

 seed is the best. 



Signs of Excellence. So far as the common judg- 

 ment can determine by external signs, the best seed is that 

 which, on the one hand, is large, plump, and heavy, and on 



