12 STORAGE AND GERMINATION OF WILD RICE SEED. 



dish was changed daily during the period of germination, and water 

 was afterwards added at irregular intervals to replace the loss by 

 evaporation. 



Plate 11 shows somewhat in detail the diti'erent stages in the germina- 

 tion of wild rice seeds. The seeds and seedlings are shown in natural 

 size. In h and c the first sheath has just burst through the seed coats, 

 taking a position at right angles to the seed proper. The lateral roots 

 begin to emerge when the first sheath leaf has attained a length of i to 

 1\ inches. From this time growth continues rapidly, and by the time 

 the seedlings are 2 or 3 inches long the root system is very well 

 developed (/' and g). At this stage under favorable conditions the 

 plants have a good hold in the soil and will not be washed away by an 

 ordinary freshet. The relative position of the actively growing 

 seedling is always at right angles to that of the old seed, as shown in 

 /"and g. 



EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON GERMINATION. 



Germination tests were made at constant and alternating tempera- 

 tures, ranging from 15- to 35- C. (59- to 95° F.). While no etfort 

 was made to show the minimum and maximum temperatures of ger- 

 mination, the percentage was somewhat reduced at a constant tempera- 

 ture of 35*^ C, and the maximum is not much above that. All of the 

 other temperatures gave good results. The lower temperatures, how- 

 ever, were slightly more favorable than the higher. These facts are 

 valuable to sho\v that the wild rice plant can thrive in either warjii or 

 cold water, but better, perhaps, in northern than in southern latitudes. 



SUMMARY. 



(1) Under no circumstances should wild rice seed which is intended 

 for planting be allowed to dry. Driec^seed will germinate but rarely 

 and should never be sown. 



(2) Wild rice seed can be stored without deterioration if it is gath- 

 ered as soon as matured, put into barrels or tanks, covered with fresh 

 water, and, before fermentation has set in, stored at a temperature of 

 32-34- F. Seed treated in this way germinated as high as SS per cent 

 after being in storage 393 days. Fresh seed seldom germinates better, 

 and usually not so well. 



(3) After the seed is taken from cold storage it should not l)e 

 allowed to dry. The vitality of cold-storage seed is destroyed on 

 drying even more quickly than that of fresh seed. 



(4) For transportation the seed should be packed in moist sphagnum, 

 cocoanut liber, or line excelsior. If not more than live ox six days 

 are required for transit, no special precautions need be taken for con- 

 trolling the temperature; but if the time for transportation exceeds 



