123 



So long as seeds are offered for sale, I am firmly of the opinion that similar 

 investigations to those reported in the, above publication must be carried 

 on, and that it is also important that similar investigations be made in every 

 country where agricultural seeds are produced. 



Some kinds of seeds, of course, present distinctive differences, even 

 among the numerous horticultural forms and varieties of the same species, 

 while, in other cases, the resemblances are so great that it is exceedingly 

 difficult properly to distinguish the various strains. Up to the present 

 time I have investigated intensively the seeds of the following species, 

 and have pubUshed my results : — ■ 



Brassica campestris var. chinensis Ito. 



Brassica campestris var. rapifera Metzg. 



Brassica japonica Thunb. 



Brassica nigra Koch. 



Brassica juncea Coss. 



Brassica oleracea capitata Linn. 



Brassica oleracea botrytis Linn. 



Brassica oleracea caulocarpa Linn. 



Raphanus sativus Linn. * 



Solanum melongena, Linn. ! 



Cucurbita mosohata Duch. var, Toonas Makino. 



Lagenaria vulgaris Ser. 



Benincasa cerifera Savi. 



CitruUus vulgaris Schrad. 



Luffa cylindrica Roem. 



Momordica charantia Linn. 



Cucumis melo Linn. 



Cucumis melo Linn, var Conomon Makino. 



Cucumis sativus Linn. 



Allium fistulosum Linn. 



Allium odorum Linn. 



Allium cepa Linn. 



Allium porrum Linn. 



Daucus carota Linn. 



Cryptotaenia canadensis DC. var. japonica Makino. 



Apium graveolens Linn. 



PetroseHnum sativum Hoff. 



Arctium lappa Linn. 



Lactuca sativa Linn. 



Chrysanthemum coronarium Linn. 



Chrysanthemum cinerarifolium Bocc. 



Chrysanthemum roseixm Web. 



Spinacia spinosa Moench. 



Spinacia glabra Miller. 



Beta vulgaris Linn. 



Capsicum annuum Linn. 



Nicotiana tabacum Linn. 



Cannabis sativa Linn. 



In initiating the work, I first secured as many samples as I could by 

 purchase, by exchange, and by gathering the seeds from plants cultivated 

 in the garden of the Institute. The characters of each individual seed 

 studied were recorded under the following general heads : — 



(a) External characters, such as shape, coloiir, markings, the 

 presence or absence of spots, f oveolae, wrinkles, hairs, ribs, projections, 

 etc. 



(b) Size, weight per thousand, and the specific gravity of seeds or 

 fruits. 



(c) Anatomical characters of the testa (seed coat) or pericarp, 

 embryo, endosperm, etc. 



