484 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [December 



specific and absolute conductivity. Farmer calls attention further to the 

 close resemblance between coppice-shoots and saplings of the ash and hazel 

 in respect to their water-conducting systems, and to the difference existing 

 between the coppice-shoots and the normal adult wood of these species. — 

 LaDema M. Langdon. 



After-ripening and germination of rice. — Kondo'" has done some very 

 interesting work on the germination of rice seeds. Seeds gathered in the 

 milk stage and put into a germinator immediately show little germination, 

 even after 30 days. Those stored in a condition permitting drying for 1 5 days, 

 or those stored without drying for 30 days, after-ripen and show a considerable 

 improvement in germination. With after-ripening germination sometimes 

 exceeds 50 per cent. Seeds harvested in the yellow ripe stage show little 

 germination when immediately placed in a germinator, but they improve in 

 germination relatively rapidly with storage, whether the storage conditions 

 permit drying or not, and after 4 months of storage give as good germination 

 as seeds harvested fully ripe. Seeds harvested fully ripe germinate fairly 

 well immediately, but are considerably improved by after-ripening. Seeds 

 harvested dead ripe do not need after-ripening, but are immediately capable 

 of prompt and good germination. 



While drying hastens the after-ripening of seeds collected in the milk or 

 yellow ripe stage, those after-ripening without drying finally give quicker and 

 better germination than those after-ripened with drying. The presence of 

 the hulls interferes with after-ripening. A few hours of sun-drying of the 

 fresh seeds favors germination. Diffuse light has no effect on the germination 

 of fully ripened seeds, but it favors the germination of those not fully after- 

 ripened. Germination percentage and energy both rise with progress in the 

 maturity and after-ripening of the seeds. Many grains of rice show abnormal 

 germination. In many of the seeds collected in the milk stage only the 

 radicle grows. In the yellow ripe, fully ripe, and dead ripe grains the abnor- 

 mality is shown by the growth of the plumule only, often followed later by many 

 secondary roots. 



The matter of dormancy and after-ripening of cereal seeds is giving seed 

 testers and other practical workers no little concern, especially in regions where 

 ripening occurs during cool or wet weather. — Wm. Crocker. 



Anthocyanin. — The distribution of anthocyanin in varieties of Coleus 

 hyhridus has been studied by Kuster," who classifies the patterns in two 

 groups: (i) sectional, mottled, and pulverulent; (2) areas with curved 

 boundaries and circular flecks. These groups of patterns are traced to 

 different origins. Patterns of the first group are traced to qualitatively 



'» KoNDO, MoNTARO, Ubcr Nachreife und Keimung veschieden reifer Reiskorner. 

 Ber. Ohara Inst. Landw. Forsch. 1:361-387. 1919. 



" KtJSTER, Ernst, Die Verteilung des Anthocyans bei Coleusspielarten. Flora 

 110:1-33. 1917. 



