Contemporary Agricultural Law. 183 



Coutiimod from vinf 173] 



This interesting discovery suggested to me to test whether 

 a living embryo could make use of the stored food in seeds 

 that were several years dead. I obtained in the spring of 1900 

 samples of red and white wheat from the previous harvest, 

 which germinated 97 and 99 per cent. ; and I had in my 

 possession samples of wheat which had been dead for six years. 

 The seeds, living and dead, were placed in water for twenty- 

 four hours. Then, by the dexterous hands of my assistant, 

 Mr. Hans Th. Giissow (now Botanist on the Experimental 

 Farm of the Government of Canada), the embryos were re- 

 moved and carefully placed on living and dead seeds ; that is 

 to say, twelve embryos of white wheat were placed on twelve 

 seeds of living white wheat, and the same on twelve dead seeds 

 of white wheat. This was repeated with white wheat on red 

 wheat, red wheat on red, and red wheat on white. The results 

 are shown in this table : — 



Results of Experiments as to Embryos utilisikg the Stored Food 



TO WHICH they have BEEN TRANSFERRED. 

 Embryo Seed Living seeds Dead seeds 



White wheat on white wheat . . 10 11 



Red wheat on red wheat ... 8 12 



White wheat on red wheat ... 12 12 



Red wheat on white wheat. . . 12 12 



These results clearly show that living embryos transferred 

 to the food store of dead seeds utilise it freely, and that the 

 store of food retains all its properties for many years after the 

 seed is dead. 



44 Central Hill, WiLLIAM CARRUTHERS. 



Norwood. S.E. 



CONTEMPORARY AGRICULTURAL LAW. 

 I. — Legislation. 



The principal Act affecting agricultural interests passed in the 

 year 1911 is the Protection of Animals Act, 1911 (1 and 2 Geo. 5 

 c. 27), which consolidates, amends, and extends previous 

 enactments relating to animals and knackers and makes further 

 provision with respect thereto. Section 1 of the Act defines the 

 offence of cruelty within the meaning of the Act. It includes 

 (a) cruelly ])eating, kicking, ill-treating, over-riding, over- 

 driving, over-loading, torturing, infuriating, or terrifying any 

 animal, or procui-ing or permitting the same, or by wantonly or 

 nnreasonal)ly doing or omitting to do any act causing any 

 unnecessary suffering, oi- (being the owner) permitting any un- 

 necessary suffering to be so caused to any animal ; (6) conveying 

 or carrying, or causing or procuring or (being the owner) 



