380 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



reserve food stored in the cotyledons for the use of the young plant, 

 that store is so great that a certain amount of it can be spared. 



In order to test the question more exactly, equal numbers (200 of 

 each set) of broad bean seeds were counted out, one set having been 

 attacked by the beetles, the other being undamaged.* These were 

 sown in boxes under similar conditions and kept side by side. As 

 might have been expected, the damaged seeds germinated two or 

 three days in advance of the whole ones. The holes made by the 

 beetles admitted water more freely than the testa could, and the 

 beans were therefore more quickly in a condition to grow. Equal 

 percentages of the two lots germinated, and the plants first up 

 maintained a slight lead. 



Later they were planted out, and both sets attained an equal 

 height, bore remarkably well, and were quite indistinguishable from 

 one another. 



It seems, therefore, that seeds damaged by the bean-seed beetle 

 may be used with good hope of reaping a crop provided the beetles 

 are first killed. The only danger is that, if the weather is cold and 

 the seed is very long in germinating, decay may set in, for bacteria 

 and fungi will have easy access through the wounded testa ; but 

 under normal conditions there is little to fear. 



* The seeds, which were of an unknown but prolific variety, had been grown 

 at Wisley in 191 2. They were badly attacked by the beetle, but it is interest- 

 ing to note that a large number of the beetles had been destroyed by an 

 ichneumon which hatched out at the time the beetles were to be expected. 

 Seeds which had contained perfect beetles were chosen. 



