Experiments have been carried out as mentioned in a previous 

 article* at the suggestion of the Director of Agriculture to compare 

 the germinating power of seeds from tapped and untapped trees 

 (Expt. I.) and to see if by coating the surfaces of the seeds with 

 various substances (Expt. II.) the germinating power could be re- 

 tained for a longer period. The tapped and untapped trees selected 

 for the experiments are 12 j-ears old ; the first mentioned have been 

 tapped for the past 2 years, the seeds were collected fresh each 

 morning and treated as mentioned in the following list. 



Experiment I. 



The Vitality of Seeds from Tapped and Untapped Trees. 



All seeds were packed with burnt padi husk in biscuit tins, each 

 containing 200 seeds. The tins were wrapped in brown paper and 

 sealed. 



Boxes Nos. I, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were kept 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 weeks 

 respectively then opened, and the seeds planted in well prepared 

 nursery beds. It v,'ill be seen from the tables that seeds from un- 

 tapped trees gave on an average 50 per cent, higher germination than 

 those from tapped trees reckoned on the absolute percentage. In 

 each test the former showed from two to three times as many ger- 

 minations as the latter. 



A record of similar experiments is published in the Circulars and 

 Agricultural Journal of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Ceylon, Volume 

 IV., No. II, May 1908. This circular states that "seeds from tapped 

 trees kept for five weeks did not germinate but those kept for four 

 weeks showed 28 per cent, germination while seeds from untapped 

 trees kept for four weeks did not germinate and those kept for three 

 weeks showed only 3 per cent, germination. Both in percentage, ger- 

 mination, and time of germination the seeds from tapped trees are 

 better throughout." No information is given regarding the manner 

 in which the seeds were kept previous to planting. 



It will be seen that the Ceylon figures are at variance with those 

 obtained here, but it is difficult to say why this should be. 



The Ceylon Circular also states that seeds from tapped trees 

 are smaller, weigh less per looo seeds than those from untapped 

 trees. This agrees with the figures obtained here, namely, seeds 

 from untapped trees were found to be on an average 10.7 per cent, 

 heavier than those from tapped trees of similar ages. The figures 

 in Experiment I. are of interest nut only as regards the suitability of 

 exporting seeds from untapped trees but they also tend to show the 

 effect tapping has on the vitality of the seed. Tapping lessens the 

 weight and size of the seeds, and according to the present experiments 

 reduces the germinating power. 



* Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and Federated Malay States Vol. X. No. II, p. 345. 

 Novembrl^ll. 



