394 Bertlia Bees : 



Longevity of Seeds. 



After the publication of tlie above-mentioned paper on "Lon- 

 gevity of Seeds," an additional set of seeds, all over 16 years old, 

 was received by Professor Ewart and passed on to me to be 

 tested. I used in addition a number of seeds sent from time to 

 time from the National Herbarium, Melbourne. These seeds 

 varied in age from one to fifty-nine years.* 



The above seeds had all been stored in packages, and were 

 in a clean, dry condition. In one instance only, Alhizzia 

 lopJiantha, had the seeds remained in the soil. They were 

 gathered from ground which had been cleared of the trees in 

 1887, so the seeds were at least 23 years old, and the majority 

 were probably much older. 



The method of testing the seeds was that found to be most 

 satisfactory by Prof. Ewart in his work. The seeds were counted 

 (one hundred being used for each test Avhenever material per- 

 mitted), sown on moist blotting paper in small glass vessels, and 

 kept in a germination chamber at 30 deg. C. The material was 

 inspected constantly, growth of mould and attacks of bacteria 

 being prevented by frequent washing and renewing of the 

 blotting paper. 



In the case of samples containing hard seeds, the following 

 method was employed. Those seeds Avhich swelled in water 

 were removed, and their jjercentage of germination noted, the 

 remaining hard seeds were ti-eated with sulphuric acid to remove 

 the cuticle ; the duration of the treatment depending on the 

 resistance of the coat. The seeds were placed in strong sulphuric 

 acid for a certain time, then washed repeatedly in water and 

 finally with dilute ammonia to remove all traces of acid. The 

 number of seeds which swelled after each treatment, and their 

 {)ercentage of germination, were recorded in the list. 



The following list is a record of all the seeds tested. The 

 name appears in the first column, the age of the seed in the 

 second, the number of seeds used for the test in the third, the 

 percentage of germination in the fourth, and in the fifth is noted 

 the method of treatment. Where the name is marked with an 

 asterisk all the observations are from the same .sample of seed. 



*Thfoiiyh the kindness of Prof. Vines a sample of the seed of an uniianied Acacia sent 

 to Sir John llerschel, in 18-t:j, was received for testing. Po.s.sibly owin;; to the sniallness 

 of the sample none of the seeds proved to he terminable, for witliin the past three or four 

 years, I'rof. Vines informs me, Sir William Hersi-hel was able to raise a few short lived 

 seedlinjfs from the same seed. 



