F. KiDD AND C. West 13 



Table IX. 

 Experiment I. 



White lupin seeds were soaked in water for 15 hours, after which the 

 testas were removed. On the first 3 days the experimental seeds were 

 exposed to the X-rays for 1 hour, | hour, and | hour respectively, the 

 temperature being 40-45° C. On the 4th day the seeds were sown in 

 damp sand together with the controls (untreated). 



Results. 



Results on Treated* Untreated 



4th day Average length of radicles = 10-7 mm. Average length of radicles :=; 0-2 mm. 



18th ,, Shoots appeared — 



26th ,, — Shoots appeared 



29th „ A\erage height of plants above level Average height of plants above level 



of sand = !)•!) cm. of sand — 7-3 cm. 



* The treatment also brought about certain anatomical motlilic-ations. 



Experiment II. 



Seeds of haricot beans were soaked in water for 2 hours after which 

 they were exposed to X-rays for 1 hour (temp. 40" C). 



Re.sulLs. 



CHExAIICAL TREATMENTS OF THE SEED. 



(a) Acids. 



A large number of workers {ejj. Fischer (8), Onodera (-'()), and others) 

 have noted the stimulating effect of acids upon germination. We have 

 only been able to find a few cases in w^hich observation was extended 

 to the subsequent course of development of the treated seeds, but 

 whenever this has been done, it is interesting to find that the author has 

 usually recorded favourable results of a more or less striking nature. A 

 few examples may be quoted. 



Promsy(30), having first established the fact that the effect upon 

 germination of a continuously-acting acid medium was favourable in a 



