220 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD, 



708-722). — This is a preliminary account of studies on tlie influences affecting 

 germination, particularly those of light, and temperature changes in the seed 

 bed. The author states that associated as modifying influences with the light 

 factor are the 3 subfactors of oxygen access (affected Ijy presence or absence 

 of chaff), germinating temperature, and resting period (after maturity). 



Seeds were subjected to maximum and minimum constant temperatures and 

 comparisons made with lots in which high and low temperatures were employed 

 for various definite periods. It was found that, while the absence of chaff 

 raised the rate of germination in all cases, a constant high temperature (33 to 

 34° C.) gave almost a maximum rate of germination and in general the higher 

 rates (94 to 95 per cent) were obtained by the longer periods of exposure (over 

 half the day) to the high temperature. The lowest rate (29 per cent) resulted 

 from exposure of the chaff-covered seeds to the minimum constant temperature 

 (19 to 20°). 



Temperature and seed germination, E. Lehmann (Bcr. Deut. Bot. Gcsell., 

 29 (1911), No. 8, pp. 577-589). — The author gives a preliminary report of a 

 series of investigations not yet comiJlete on the effects of temperatures and 

 temperature changes on the germination of seeds sensitive to light. The worli 

 stands in close relation to that of W. Kinzel (E. S. R., 22, p. 720; 26, p. 821). 

 In part the same material was chosen and studied, with the results which were 

 partly different or opposite given in considerable detail. 



The effect of heat on seeds in a state of anesthesia, J. Apsit and E. Gain 

 (Compf. Rend. Soc. Biol. [Paris], 70 {1911), No. 2Jt, pp. 55-58).— In previous 

 publications (E. S. R., 22, pp. 27, 436) the authors showed the action of 

 anesthetics and heat on the diastases of seed. In the present paper a brief 

 account is given of experiments showing the effect of heat and anesthetics on 

 germination. 



Different lots of wlieat were subjected to ether and ether vapors and then 

 placed in water heated to 58° C. for 5 minutes, and the effect on germination 

 determined. All lots of seed had been previously placed in cold water to 

 bring their moisture content to about 21 per cent. The results show that, 

 other conditions being equal, wheat subjected to anesthetics is much more 

 affected by high temiDcrature than seed not treated with ether. A few minutes' 

 exposure to ether followed by the application of heat was sufficient to destroy 

 the vitality of all the seed. Similar results were obtained with other anes- 

 thetics, as chloroform and a solution of cocaine. 



If the interval between exposure to ether and placing the seed in hot water 

 was progressively increased, the effect of the anesthetic appeared gradually to 

 diminish and the percentage of germination to increase correspondingly. 



The so-called respiration of powdered seeds, L. Iwanoff (Bcr. Drut. Bot. 

 GcscIL, 29 (/911), No. 8, pp. 563-570).— The author reports a continuation of 

 his investigations on carbon dioxid evolution and alcoholic fermentation in 

 seeds (E. S. R., 26, pp. 731, 822), claiming that these support his former 

 conclusions, uaTmely, that the carbon dioxid evolved is largely, if not entirely, 

 of anaerobic origin. 



Effect of warm baths on respiration and germination of resting plants, 

 r. P. Ibaklionov (Trudy Imp. S. Pctcrh. Ohshch. Estcstvo. (Trav. Soc. Imp. 

 Nat. 8t. Prtrrsh.), J,2 (1911), III, No. 2-8, pp. 239-270, figs. /,).— The author 

 sums up the conclusions reached in his investigations substantially as follows : 



Warm baths heighten the energy of respiration only during the first few days, 

 after which the respiration curve remains at its normal resting level until 

 it rises on germination. The effects of the warm bath are to be attributed 

 not only to the influence of temperature but also to that of the water. This 

 effect is not a simple and transient stimulation but a complex, deep-lying 



