THE BROAD-BEAN WEEVIL. 
69 
The final conclusion, however, of both series of experiments is that 
the presence of the weevils in the seed is highly detrimental, affecting 
to a very considerable degree the reproductive powers of the future 
plant and the germinating qualities of the seed, if any is produced. 
If the germ itself be penetrated the seed naturally is necessarily 
rendered sterile. 
Mr. Wood admitted that the subject was open to further experi- 
ment. 
GERMINATION TEST OF INFESTED WINDSOR BEANS FROM CALIFORNIA. 
March 8, 1912, from a quantity of Windsor beans infested with the 
broad-bean weevil, furnished by Mr. Parker from California, a number 
were selected for germination tests. 
The beans were classified as uninjured and those showing injury 
by the presence of from 1 to 5 holes or infestations. These were 
placed between cloths and covered with moist sand, remaining in this 
condition for one week. At the end of this time the beans were 
opened and the number that had germinated were counted. The 
beans had previously been divided into lots of 50 each. 
The percentages of germination as determined by Mr. C. H. Popenoe 
are as follows: 
Table I. — Germination test of infested Windsor beans from California. 
Number of injuries. 
Perfect 
One injury.. 
Two injuries 
Three njuries 
Four and five injuries 
Number 
Number 
of beans. 
germi- 
nated. 
50 
37 
50 
29 
50 
23 
50 
27 
05 
21 
Per cent 
germi- 
nated. 
74 
58 
46 
54 
32.3 
Average percentage of injured beans that germinated 47. 5 
Percentage o uninjured beans that germinated 74. 
Percentage of germinable beans destroyed by weevil 35. 8 
The above figures show that even in cases where a single individual 
weevil attacks a broad bean, less than 60 per cent of such infested 
beans germinate, whereas when four or five beetles find lodgment in 
a single seed, 32.3 per cent, or about one-third only, germinate. There 
is no doubt that seeds containing holes made by this beetle are unfit 
for planting, as, even with perfect germination, the opportunity for 
the entrance of water into the seeds stimulates decay and the seed 
frequently rots before germination. 
