WHEAT TREATED WITH FORMALDEHYDE 367 



tain prescribed time. The seed was submerged into the formalin 

 solution (1-320) for nine minutes; one minute was taken to pour off 

 the solution. The grains were dried immediately by means of slips 

 of filter paper, after the seeds had been placed in a 50 cc. porcelain 

 crucible. When the seeds were sufficiently dry, so as not to adhere 

 to sides of the crucible, they were returned to the weighing bottle 

 and weighed. In all cases the bottle was rotated so as to be sure 

 that none of the seeds would adhere. If they did they were dried 

 further before being weighed. The germination was tested by the 

 usual plate method, petri dishes being employed. 



COMPARATIVE ABSORPTION 



In the tests for comparative absorption 100 seeds were counted 

 out, weighed, dried and again weighed as given above. In all cases 

 the absorption for seeds placed in the formalin solution was com- 

 pared directly with the absorption taking place in water ; one set was 

 handled by each of the writers. Five determinations of each were 

 made. The data obtained are given in table I. 



