265 



Series C — Concluded 



Table 13. New Corn. Water Content Equivalent to 21.3 per cent, of Dry Weight 



Table 14. 



New Corn Soaked in Water 1 hr. Water Content Equivalent to 

 25.44 per cent, of Dry Weight 



The amount of water contained in the respective samples used, 

 as shown by desiccation to constant weight at lOO degrees C, is re- 

 corded in Table ii. The old corn was harvested one year previous 

 and had been stored in the dry rooms of the laboratory for approxi- 

 mately six months. The new corn had just been harvested, but was 

 fully mature and sound in every way. It will be noted that the old 

 corn contained an amount of water equivalent to 2.19% of the con- 

 stant weight at 100 degrees C. ; the new corn, 21.3%; and the new 

 corn soaked in water for one hour, 25.44%. Under normal condi- 

 tions both the old corn and the new corn germinated perfectly. 



The corn containing water in the amounts indicated above was 

 immersed in kerosene and tested for viability at intervals of five days. 

 The results are brought together in tables 12, 13, and 14. A glance at 

 these tables shows that after a period of more than five days' immer- 

 sion in kerosene the injuries are very decidedly increased in the grains 

 of high water content. One hundred per cent, of the dry grains germi- 

 nated after ten days' immersion in kerosene, while the germination of 

 the new corn and the new corn soaked in water dropped to 36 and 10% 

 respectively. Immersion in kerosene for twenty days proved fatal 

 to all the corn of each lot containing the higher percentages of water. 

 The air-dry corn, after an equal period of immersion, gave 92% 

 germination and 88% normal growth. 



Since the per cent, of germination falls so rapidly in corn not fully 

 dry and in corn soaked in water for a short time, it seems evident that 

 some physical change of the investing membranes takes place on 

 moistening, and that they become more readily permeable to kerosene. 



