Germination of Seed as Affected by Sulfuric Acid Treatment 327 



or an increase of g per cent for the treatment. Nor was this the only 

 advantage attained. The germination of the treated seed was acceler- 

 ated very materially. At the end of 7 days, the time of the first count, 

 an average of 55 per cent of the treated seeds had germinated, while in 

 the check the average was 10.5 per cent. At the end of 9 days, the 



Fig. 82. — The solid line represents the germination of cotton seed treated with concen- 

 trated sulfuric acid for i$ minutes; the broken line, the germination of the untreated 

 seed. ( Table i6) 



germinations were 70.5 per cent and 31 per cent, respectively; at 11 

 days, 83.5 per cent and 57 per cent, respectively. 



This acceleration of germination is illustrated in the accompanying 

 curve, Fig. 82. 



It is seen in Table 1 7 that Lot C 09 gave in the check tests 90 per cent 

 and 97.5 per cent germination, the samples that were soaked in water 

 for 24 hours previous to being placed in the germinator giving the lower 

 germination. The acid-treated samples vary from 98 per cent to 87.5 



