740 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



It is noted that the action of 80 per cent sulphuric acid upon the seed for 

 lengths of time not over 10 to 12 minutes increased markedly the total amount 

 of germination and in certain cases increased the rapidity of germination. The 

 action of concentrated sulphuric acid (sp. gr. 1.84) for periods of time as short 

 as 1 minute killed the seed used. A markedly injurious effect of prolonged 

 washing with running water after sulphuric acid treatment was noted. 



" Results at present at hand seem to leave no doubt that in the case of 

 ?y. acuminata varieties at least the action of sulphuric acid is not restricted to 

 weakening the hard outer coverings of the seeds, . . . but that its action is 

 further strikingly effective in Increasing the rate of growth during at least the 

 first 3 months of the plant's life." 



Six, 7, and 8-year-old tobacco seed was found to give a relatively high per- 

 centage of total germination in most cases. Rapidity of germination in general 

 was found to be independent of the age of the seed and to be characteristic of 

 the seed of certain species or varieties throughout and not characteristic of 

 others. A certain period of " after ripening" seemed to be essential for average 

 germination percentages as shown in the case of 1912 Isl. acuminata varieties. 

 Seed taken from dehiscing capsules on the plants in the field gave very low 

 percentages of germination in the case of 2V. acuminata varieties alone. Fi 

 hybrid seed 3 years old gave higher percentages of germination than the seed 

 of the parents of the corresponding cross and of the same age. 



Biolog-ical point of view in the examination of seeds, E. Schaffnit {Jour. 

 Landw., 61 (WIS), No. 1, pp. 57-71).— In this paper the author discusses the 

 germinative ability and vegetative force of seeds, and points out the value of 

 using determinations of the latter in placing values on seeds since it bears a 

 more direct relation to field results. It is shown that when the germinative 

 ability was about 90 per cent for cereal seeds the vegetative force was only 

 about 70 per cent. Results of artificial unfavorable vegetative conditions, such 

 as extremes in temperature, too severe treatment with copper sulphate and 

 formalin solutions, old seed, seed infected with Fusarium, and unfavorable soil 

 conditions, as heavy clay, compared favorably with field conditions and served 

 as a means of determining the percentage of seeds that would not produce 

 mature plants. It is suggested that some means be employed in the grading 

 and cleaning of seeds to discard the?e weak germs, which on the average equal 

 about one-fifth of the cereal seeds that are sown. 



Tables give tests of the germinative ability and vegetative force of numerous 

 samples of rye, wheat, barley, and oats. 



Determination of the germinative energy of seeds based on the mean time 

 of germination, G. D'Ippolito (Stas. Sper. Agr. Itah, 45 (1912). No. 4, pp. 

 302-320). ^The author considers that the mean time of germination is the 

 proper basis for the comparison of germination tests. Tabulated results of 

 germination tests of several samples of seeds, including clovers, lupines, broom 

 plant, grasses, vetch, maize, beets, wheat, oats, rice, and hemp are given. 



The effect of hot water and mechajiical treatment on seeds during germi- 

 nation, H. A. Dodge (Vermont Sta. Bill. 170. pp. 134, 135).— To hasten the 

 germination of some seeds that required special treatment, they were subjected 

 to a mechanical treatment by filing, and to a hot water treatment with tem- 

 peratures ranging from 80 to 212° F., for periods of from 10 minutes to 48 

 hours. 



" The results attained seem to indicate that ninebark and honeysuckle seed 

 should be treated with hot water ; that the germination of others may be thus 

 hastened, barberry and dogwood being soaked for an hour and Virginia creeper 

 and roses and Boston ivy for a less time ; and that hot water treatment may be 

 considered to be superior to stratification." 



