830 EXPEHlMENT STATION EECORD. 



ations of temperature comparable to those outside. After varying periods of 

 time portions of these lots were tested as to comparative power of germination 

 in blotting paper, sand, and humus. 



The treatment so far as tried showed favorable results, as compared with 

 those from the exposed seeds, in preserving the viability of the seeds of the fir, 

 oak, beech, and maple. The other seeds gave inconclusive or negative results. 



The results of the germination of seed subjected to the action of various 

 solutions, P. Lesage (Cotnpt. Rend. Acad. 8ci. [Paris], 154 (1912), No. 13, pp. 

 826-829). — ^A brief account is given of experiments with seed of the common 

 garden cress to determine the effect of various solutions on germination. Seed 

 were placed to germinate after soaking in varying sirengths of alcohol for 

 periods of from 1 to 50 hours. 



The results show that in very concentrated solutions the seed retained their 

 vitality to a considerable extent, while in more dilute ones they were destroyed. 

 In still greater dilutions of alcohol no injury was noted. 



A table is given showing the effect of treating seed in from 0.5 to 12.5 per 

 cent solutions of absolute alcohol, the exposure varying from 1 to 50 hours. 

 The strongest solution, even when employed for 50 hours, destroyed only 3 out 

 of 10 seed, while after 6 hours in the 0.5 per cent solution none germinated 

 and only 2 remained alive in the lot that was treated that long. For the 1 per 

 cent solution none germinated after 3 hours' soaking, nor did any germinate 

 after 2 hours' treatment in the 2 per cent solution, but as the strength of the 

 solution was increased the period of soaking could be likewise increased without 

 apparent injury. 



The author discusses at length the curve which shows the relation between 

 the strength of solution and the length of exposure, and thinks that possibly 

 some data can be secured on the sterilization of seed without appreciably in- 

 juring their vitality. Other experiments are briefly noted in which cress and 

 radish seeds were subjected to solutions of common salt and comparable curves 

 were obtained. 



The effects of caflfein upon the g-ermination and growth of seeds, F. Ransom 

 [Bio-Chein. Jour., 6 (1912), Xo. 2, pp. 151-161). — Caffein in aqueous solutions, 

 varying in strength from 1 to 0.0001 per cent, was applied to various seeds be- 

 fore planting in order to test its effects in retarding or stimulating germination 

 and growth. 



The results obtained quite uniformly attest the injurious effects of caffein. 

 At 1 per cent concentration, germination was entirely prevented in some in- 

 stances, and both germination and growth were greatly retarded by strengths 

 as low as 0.01 per cent. The only exception, that in case of nasturtium, was 

 (ascribed to the density of the seed covering which was supposed to limit the 

 access of caffein. More dilute solutions of caffein alone or in association with 

 other substances had no perceptible accelerating effect. The investigations are 

 being continued. 



Water and light as factors in vegetation, T. Pfeiffee, E. Blanck, and M. 

 Fi.tiGEL (Landw. Vers. Stat., 76 (1912), Xo. 3-6, pp. 169-236, figs. ^).— These 

 investigators carried out in the spring of 1910 a series of 112 experiments on the 

 effects of water and light on growth products of oats, the more significant re- 

 sults of which may be summed up as follows : 



' The water content of the soil bears a more important relation to the formation 

 of crop products than has yet received adequate recognition. The nitrogen con- 

 tent of the crop is increased with the addition to the soil of this nutritive sub- 

 stance. The establishment of maximum values for the profitable utilization of 

 plant food is considered to be of importance as regards agricultural products. 

 Self-shading through luxuriant growth interferes with the results of other 



