274 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. ' 



same external conditions at different times, dependent upon 

 the individual peculiarity of the seed. 



Saturated air and a moderately high temperature cause an 

 impairment of the vitality. 



5. In a saturated atmosphere seeds will not germinate at 

 a constant temperature high enough to keep the vapor from 

 depositing on the seed. 



6. Upon loss of water of constitution many seeds are 

 spoiled. 



7. Upon access of water, the action of a high temperature, 

 and lack of au', seeds are at once irreparably injured. 



12. If seeds are not killed by boiling water, their immu- 

 nity results from their peculiar coats. 



13. The unfavorable effects produced by too high tempera- 

 tures are almost exactly like those produced by too great age. 



14. High temperatures injure in the following ways : — 



1st, Germination is retarded. 



2d, Development is slower. 



3d, Percentage of viable seeds is smaller. 



15. The killing of seeds at too high temperatures has noth- 

 ing to do with the coagulation of albumen. 



To show that cold has little effect upon wheat-grains, the 

 following extract from " The Gardener's Chronicle " ^ is in- 

 structive : — 



•' Dr. Schomburgk narrates, in his report on the Adelaide Botanic Gar- 

 dens, that he received a sample of wheat taken from a quantity left by 

 the American arctic expedition ship ' Polaris ' in 1871, which had been 

 abandoned in north latitude 81° 16'. The wheat had been left on the 

 beach, exposed to the snow and a temperature of 72° -104° oi frost, for 

 five years, and was found in a heap by Dr. Ninnis of her Majesty's ship 

 ' Discovery ' on the return of the last arctic expedition to England. Dr. 

 Schomburgk sowed about three hundred, of which sixty germinated. 

 The plants grew healthy, and reached to the height of from three to 

 four feet." 



The Action of Chemical Agents upon Seeds. — The early 

 researches by Humboldt and others, in regard to the use of 

 dilute chlorine-water for the purpose of hastening germina- 

 tion of seeds, have been so often described in works accessi- 

 ble to members of the Board, that they will not now be 

 further alluded to. Moreover, the reputed value of camphor- 



1 Gard. Chron., London, Aug. 10, 1878, p. 183. 



