47 — 



No. 2, sparingly watered. 



SOWN MAY 4, 6 p. M. 



Epitome. — There was a gain in rapidity of sprouting in the 

 drier pan, and 40 per cent, gain in per cent, of sprouting. The 

 seeds appear to have been poor from the first. 



Beans of which the epidermis was slightl)'^ broken were taken 

 from the same package, and tested in the same manner with the 

 following results : 



27. Lima Bean, Large White. — Dreer. (Compare with No. 

 26.) Fig. 4. 



28 beans, of which the epidermis had been slightly broken in threshing 

 or cleaning, in lo-inch seed-pans, sown one inch deep. 



No. I, profusely watered. 



No. 2, sparingly watered. 



SOWN MAY 4 6 P.M. 



Epitome. — Per cent of sprouting was over 70 per cent, greater in 

 the drier pan. This was due to the fact that more of the beans 

 rotted in the wet pan. On May 22nd, twenty-six of the beans in 

 the wet pan were rotten. O11I3' six were rotten in the drier pan 

 and ten were sprouting. It is known that seeds with a slight 

 surface abrasion often germinate better than tho.se which are un- 

 injured ; but this test indicates that great care must be exercised 

 to water such seeds sparingly, as they are more likely to rot. 



Figure 4, from a photograph, represents this test on May 20th. 



