202 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Evening Session. 

 The Board met at half-past seven o'clock, and the Chair- 

 man mtroduced Professor Geokge L. Goodale of Cambridge 

 as the lecturer of the evening. 



RECENT RESEARCHES IN REGARD TO SEEDS. 



BY PKOFESSOK GEOKGE L. GOODALE. 



Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Board op 

 AGRicm.TURE, — Last year I had the pleasure of presenting 

 to this Board some notes of a careful examination of the re- 

 corded results of hybridization of plants. In the course of 

 that lecture it was necessary to dwell with some particular- 

 ity upon the phenomena of bud-reproduction and of seed-re- 

 production ; and the differences between them were pointed 

 out. On this occasion we are to examine, with as much care 

 as the time permits, the changes which a ripened seed may 

 undergo after its separation from the parent-plant. We are 

 to investigate especially the more recent researches in regard 

 to the germination of seeds and the determination of their 

 value. The later researches in connection with the experi- 

 ment stations in Europe and in this country have added 

 much to our knowledge of the structure of seeds, the con- 

 ditions of germination, and the detection of adulterations. 

 In a German work ^ by Nobbe, published in 1876, the sub- 

 ject of seeds has been presented with care and thoroughness. 

 The volume, although expressly designed for use and refer- 

 ence in Germany, ought to be translated into English, and 

 properly annotated for employment in Great Britain and 

 America. To the statements made by Nobbe in his treatise, 

 the present lecture will add certain facts more recently an- 

 nounced, in order that the subject may be brought down to 

 the latest possible date. 



It may be necessary to give at the outset a few general 

 principles in regard to the production of seeds, and their 

 ripening. Many of the facts respecting reproduction of 

 plants by seeds are known to the members of the Board ; but 

 it may be well to present them briefly in their proper rela- 



1 Handbuch der Samenkunde, von Dr. Friedrich Nobbe (Professor at 

 Tharaiid). Berlin, 1876. 



