Several species of grasses which have different ratings for seedling vigor were examined for rapidity of germination, seedling growth rates in the dark, and the ultimate length of dark grown seedlings. These are attributes which could be of importance in seedling vigor during the early, nonphotosynthetic stage of seedling growth.Extreme rapidity of germination largely accounts for the high seedling vigor of Schismus arabicus. In three species and strains of Phalaris, there were indications that rapidity of germination and mean seedling growth rates paralleled their rating for seedling vigor. No relation appeared to exist between total seedling length adjusted to a common seed weight and rating for seedling vigor.

Application of nitrogen and phosphorus to parent plants of O. miliacea increased the number of seeds produced per plant and the mean seed weight. Both the seedling growth rates and the ultimate seedling lengths in the dark independent of seed weight were increased by the fertilizer application to the parent plants. However, these increases were relatively small compared with the increases associated with seed weight. Water stress applied to the parent plants in pots, decreased the seed yield per plant and increased the mean seed weight. Seedling growth or ultimate seedling length, independent of seed weight, was not affected.

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