In order to establish the technique of seed production in orchard-grass, researches were made with orchard grass on tillering which has close relation with seed yield. (1) Orchard grass, being perennial and of vigorows vegetative growth, develops continuously a number of tillers, In these experiments about six hundred of tillers in total developed per plant during a year under field condition. (2) There were found three peaks in the whole year's curve of tillering of orchard grass, namely, those in March, June and Octover. (3) In the first year, the major part of the seed yield of orchard grass was obtained from the tillers of first, second and third orders, of which the highest yield was from that of second order. In the second year, the major part of the yield was obtained from the tillers of forth, fifth and sixth orders, the fifth giving the highest yield. (4) As to the heading tiller percentage, that of fall-midwinter tillers was relatively high, while it fell acutely down in early spring tillers. (5) Many of the main stems of orchard grass stopped growing in the midway. Even in those which headed and ripened, the seed yield was relatively small. (6) From the comparison of the length of the maturing periods in the first year with that in the second year, the latter was found remarkably shorter, making seed production technically more efficient.
View full abstract