LIFE HISTORY OF TIMOTHY 7 
in another series of pots from seed sown at about the same time 
and at the same depths. The average actual distances measured 
along the axes of the seedlings from the seeds up to the surface of 
the soil, the average lengths of the mesocotyls and coleophylls, and 
the position of the tips of the coleophylls in relation to the surface 
of the soil are presented in Table 3. Seven seedlings were measured 
from seeds sown 1.5 inches deep and 10 seedlings from seeds sown at 
each of the other depths. 
Table 3. — Effect of Bowing timothy seed at different depths upon growth of 
seedlings 
Approximate depth of 
sowing 
Average 
actual 
distance 
of seed 
below 
surface 
of soil 
(inches) 
Average length (inches) 
Meso- 
cotyl 
Coleo- 
phyll 
Total 
Average position of tip of coleophyll 
At the surface.- . 
0.03 
0.02 
.46 
.72 
.91 
1 
0.21 j 
.24 ' 
. 35 
.53 i 
0.23 
.70 
1.07 
1.44 
0.20 inch above the surface of the soil. 
0.5 inch 
1.0 inch 
.52 
.97 j 
0.18 inch above the surface of the soil. 
0.10 inch above the surface of the soil. 
1.5 inches 
! 1.50 1 
0.06 inch below the surface of the soil. 
On 6 of the 10 plants from seeds sown approximately at the sur- 
face the mesocotyl could not be distinguished, since the nodal roots 
grew on the axis of each one of these plants at a point very close to 
the seed. As the depth of sowing increased, the length of the 
mesocotyl increased to an average maximum of 0.91 inch. Through 
this organ within certain limits the rooting system of the seedlings 
of timothy tends to become established near the surface of the soil, 
irrespective of the depth of sowing. This function of the mesocotyl 
has also been observed in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ; 16, p. 408), 
corn (Zea mays L. ; 6, p. 293-302), and Sudan grass (Sorghum 
sudanense Piper: 3d, p. 8-9). The effect of depth of sowing on the 
length of the mesocotyl is illustrated in Plate 1, A. 
The average length of the coleophyll on plants from seed sown at 
the surface was 0.21 inch. As the depth of sowing increased the 
coleophyll also increased in length, though not to such an extent as 
did the mesocotyl. On the average plant from seed sown 1.5 inches 
deep the coleophyll was 0.53 inch long. It is the tip of the coleophyll 
that penetrates through the surface of the soil, unless the seed has 
been sown so deep that the total length of the mesocotyl and 
coleophyll is not sufficient for the tip of the latter organ to reach 
the surface of the soil, in which case the seedling is not likely to 
grow above it (8. p. 554). 
VEGETATIVE REPRODUCTION 
There is one bud in the axil of each leaf of a timothy shoot. The 
buds in the axils of the first few leaves which form and the buds at 
nodes between the elongated internodes of the culm ordinarily do 
not develop so that they can be detected by the unaided eye. but 
according to Xishimura their presence can be shown by a micro- 
scopic examination of these nodes ( 25, p. 61-62). 
