Color and Germination 



129 



ence on germination, although it is often the expression 

 of some anatomical conformation of the seed-coats, of 

 weight, or some other condition which may have to 

 do with the germination of the seed. In some cases 

 the color indicates improper handling and curing of 

 the seeds. In itself, however, color is unimportant. 



Numerous tests made with clover seeds of different colors 

 by Beal, showed no differences in favor of one color over another. 

 Sturtevant investigated the germinating power of light- colored 

 and dark seeds, with the following results : 





Per cent 



Per cent 



Weight 



Weight 





of germi- 



of germi- 



of 100 



of 100 





nation of 



nation of 



light- 



dark- 





light- 



dark- 



colored 



colored 





colored 



colored 



seeds 



seeds 





seeds 



seeds 



GRS. 



GRS. 



Early Purple Cape Broccoli . . . 



. . 79 



92 



4.08 



4.93 



Earliest Blood Red Erfurt Cabbage 



. 74 



77 



3.46 



5.78 





, . 83 



98 



4.23 



5.09 



Schweinfurt Largest White Cabbage . 96 



98 



3.46 



5.78 



Chou Mille Tetes Kale or Cabbage 



. . 91 



100 



5.86 



7.40 



While the results show decided advantage possessed by the 

 dark seeds over the light- colored ones, the gains are undoubtedly 

 due to the fuller development of the seeds rather than to their 

 color merely, inasmuch as the dark-colored seeds are the heavier. 

 As a light color is often indicative of less weight or less vigorous 

 development, however, it may be looked upon, in many cases 

 at least, as an evidence of inferior germinative vitality. The 

 result with endive seeds, which gave figures of an opposite 

 character, are not quoted, as the age of the seed is not desig- 

 nated, and as this plant usually gives anomalous results with 

 fresh seeds. 



The latitude and general climatic conditions under 

 which seeds are grown appear to exercise an impor- 

 tant influence on germination, although one which is 



I 



