54 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



of these species germinate well the first season, if sown a tonce in 

 the fall, or if soaked in warm water before sowing. However, the 

 greater proportion hold over until the second year. 



The author, in order to learn the effect of wounding the seed coat 

 of ash {Fraxinus excelsior) and hornbeam (Carpinus hetulus) seeds, 

 placed 100 of each untreated in an "Aubryschen" germination chamber 

 in the fall of 1899, together with 100 of each which had been wounded 

 with a penknife on their broad surface. These were all perfect 

 specimens. 



With the ash seeds, 100 per cent of the wounded seeds decayed 

 within 190 days. Of the untreated seeds, not a single germination 

 took place until April of the second spring after starting the test (or 

 538 days). Germination then proceeded very slowly until 6 per cent 

 had germinated in 4 9-10 years. The last germination occurred after 

 8 3-10 years, making a final record of 11 per cent. The other 89 per 

 cent had rotted. 



With the hornbeam — every wounded seed decayed, but 4 4-10 years 

 were necessary to bring this about. The first germination in the un- 

 treated sample took place 618 days after the beginning of the test, 

 in 1 9-10 years, 10 per cent in 3 3-10 years, 25 per cent had germinated, 

 while the last germination was recorded 4 9-10 years from the begin- 

 ning, making a final germination of 33 per cent, 40 per cent of the 

 remainder had rotted, while the remaining 28 per cent proved upon 

 being cut open to be entirely hollow. 



Evidently here the seed coat is no bar to the entry of water and 

 oxygen and no advantage attends its wounding, every wounded seed 

 decaying sooner or later. The writer thinks that the flat-lying position 

 of the wounded seeds may possibly have led to the knife cuts going 

 too deep and to a consequent injury of the embryo within, resulting 

 in inability to germinate and in decay. On the other hand, he thinks 

 it more probable that a certain period of "Keimruhe" is normal for the 

 seeds in question, regardless of the condition or character of the seed 

 coat. The injury of the seed coat may permit the entrance of fungi 

 which attack and overcome the embryo before the period of natural 

 rest has been completed, thus preventing germination. 



The failure of filing and cauterizing the seed coat of seeds of 

 Pinus cembra as reported by Lakon ® is mentioned. 



Hiltner's belief ® that lower soil organisms are very destructive to 

 seeds particularly before they have sufficiently developed to resist the 



