EFFECT OF MOISTURE AND TEMPERATURE. 83 



tonipeiatuiTs (30° to 37" C.) were killed much earlier than those 

 subjected to the moist atmosphere at the lower temperatures — 30"^ to 

 32° C. — in both the open and the closed bottles. 



A weighino- at the end of 31 days showed that the average increase 

 in weight of the seeds kept in the open, moist chand)er, due to the 

 absorption of moisture, was G per cent at a temperature of 30"^ to 

 32° C, and 5 per cent at a temperature of 30" to 37° C. For the 

 seeds kept in the oven, maintained at the temperature of 30° to 32"^ C, 

 another weighing was made at the end of 134 days, at which time the 

 average increase in the water content had risen to 8.07 per cent. 

 Unfortunately the seeds from the second oven, maintained at the 

 higher temperature, had l)ecome badl}' molded in O'J days, so that only 

 the one weighing was made. 



Vitalit}" tests made at this tmie, 00 days, showed that all of the 

 seeds from the open, moist chamber, at the higher temperatures, had 

 been previously killed as a result of the drastic treatment; coiise- 

 cjuently no future germination tests were made. Those maintained at 

 the lower temperatures were almost entirely free from mold at the 

 expiration of the experiment, only an occasional seed showing any 

 trace of fmigous growth. Nevertheless, germination tests showed 

 that the vitality had been destroyed in the cabbage, lettuce, and onion. 

 Beans and carrot were most resistant, the former having germinated 

 2.3 ])er cent and the latter 0.5 per cent. All of the seeds had become 

 very nuich softened. The beans and the lettuce had changed very 

 materially in color, the beans (Early Kidney Wax Six Weeks) having 

 Ijecome much darker and the lettuce (Black-Seeded Simi)son) almost a 

 lemon color. 



AVitli the seeds constituting the second series, i. e. , in a moist atnios- 

 phei'ti hut hi scaled hottles^ the injury was much more severe. Here, as 

 with the open chambers, the seeds subjected to the higher temperatures 

 were killed tirst, even though the amount of moisture actually absorbed 

 was less, as was also true with the other series. A weighing made at 

 the end of 81 days gave an increase of 8.0 per .cent for those from the 

 oven maintained at a temperature of 30° to 32" C , and 0.3 per cent at'the 

 higher temperature. Likewise, in this series, the seeds had become 

 very much softened and a very disagreeable odor had developed as a 

 result of the putrefaction of their nitrogenous constituents. A close 

 examination made at the end of 81 days revealed slight traces of fun- 

 gous growth, but there is no reason to believe that these plaj^ed any 

 part in the destruction of vitality. However, in making counts for 

 germination tests all molded seeds were carefully discarded. 



The results of the germination tests showed that the vitality of the 

 seeds kept at the lower temperatures had been practically destroyed 

 at this time. The beans and onions failed to germinate, while the 

 25037— No. 58—04 3 



