SOMATIC CHARACTERS AND FERTILITY 
There can be little doubt that the observed statistical correlation 
between the number of pods per plant and the number of ovules laid 
down per pod describes a real morphogenetic interdependence. The 
constants further show that the relationship for the particular charac- 
ters under consideration is not strict but lax. 
The biological interpretation of the numerical values for number 
of pods and number of seeds matured per pod is not so simple. Here 
a second set of innate and environmental physiological factors — those 
involved in determining whether a given ovule shall die or develop — 
are superimposed upon the morphogenetic and physiological complex 
involved in determining the degree of development of p and 0. 
The most patent effect of these superimposed physiological factors 
is the death (non-development) of a considerable proportion of the 
ovules. The number failing to develop into seeds varies widely from 
pod to pod, but on the average it is roughly, though as I have shown 
(191 3^) not exactly proportional to the number of ovules per pod. As 
a result there is a correlation of medium intensity between the number 
of seeds developing per pod and number of ovules formed (1912J). 
Clearly, therefore, there may be (at least) two quite independent 
sets of factors influencing the correlation between p and s. The first 
of these is involved in the interdependences rvo and Us ; as a resultant 
of these forces some relationship must exist between p and s. It is 
conceivable that this correlation which indicates no direct and inde- 
pendent physiological or morphogenetic nexus between p and 5 may 
account for the whole of the observed value of rps. 
To correct for the influence of rpo and fos on rps, I have recourse to 
the partial correlations between pods per plant and seeds per pod for 
constant numbers of ovules per pod. These have been calculated 
from the usual formula 
^ ^ps f polios 
" Vl — Tpo^^I — ros^ 
for each of the series. The values for rpo, rps are of course those of 
this paper. Those for ros have already been published (19126^). 
The values, table I, are also shown graphically in comparison with 
the correlations rps in diagram 4. The reduction in the intensity of 
the relationship between number of pods and number of seeds when 
correction is made for the relationship of these two characters with 
number of ovules per pod is clearly marked: it occurs in every in- 
