CHAPTER III 



GERMINATION AND LONGEVITY OF SEEDS 



64. Size of seed generall)^ produces proportionate seed- 

 lings, not only as to species but as to specimen. A mere 

 glance at a lima bean would suggest that the seedling 

 would be many times larger than a begonia seedling. 

 The same generally holds true of the larger, heavier 

 specimens as compared with the smaller, lighter ones of 

 the same species. 



Galloway found that large radish seed germinates more quickly 

 and certainly, and produces marketable plants sooner and more uni- 

 formly than small seed, while small seed gives proportionately larger 

 plants than does large seed, though not to an extent believed to be 

 advantageous in practice. Another investigator found that pea 

 plants from large seed bloomed four days earlier than those from 

 ■ small, and produced marketable peas four days earlier and the main 

 crop five to six days earlier. Beans acted similarly. 



65. Large seed in plant production — M. B. Cummings of Vermont 

 reports a series of experiments with seeds of sweet peas, sweet 

 pumpkins, Hubbard squash, lettuce, beans, parsley, radishes, spinach, 

 garden peas and other plants to determine the relative value of large 

 and small seeds on plant production. The experiments, as a whole, 

 show a distinct advantage in using large and heavy seed. Sweet 

 peas gave earlier bloom, a larger number of blossoms, and a larger 

 number of blossoms of good quality. The plants were also heavier 

 and more prolific and thrifty. Small squash and pumpkin seed gave 

 a larger number and greater total weight of fruit, but were markedly 

 inferior as to number and weight of ripe fruit. Large lettuce seed 

 produced larger seedlings, an increased weight of edibly matured 

 plants with better heading capability, earliness and uniformity. Of 

 the crops tested, garden peas alone showed little or no difference 

 when the seed was harvested as green peas. There was a slight 

 gain for plants from large seed allowed to mature. Large bean 

 seed gave an earlier product, but was slower in germinating. 



66. Delayed germination. — When conditions are nor- 

 mal, many seeds will sprout in less than three days (mus- 

 tard family) ; others seem to require three or more weeks 

 (parsley family); still others do not germinate for a 



