46 
In Florida and other countries the development of the camphor 
industry has been checked by the low percentage of seeds which 
produced transplantable seedlings, about 10 per cent. being the 
average, theretore during the winter of 1916-17, and again in 
1917-18, experiments were undertaken by Mr. Russell to deter- 
mine whether, by the adoption of any special method of seed 
preparation before sowing, better results could be obtained. 
Previous experience indicated that the removal of the pulp 
from the seeds before sowing hastened, if it did not increase, 
germination, whilst there was a prevalent belief that the exposure 
of the fruits to frost whilst on the tree was detrimental to seed 
germination. Therefore, these were two of the chief factors borne 
in mind whilst conducting the experiments. In addition, the 
action of fermentation, dry and moist heat, and sulphuric acid 
on the vegetative properties of the seeds was studied. Attention 
was also paid to the difference in the germinating qualities of seeds 
picked up beneath the trees during the early ripening period and 
those that were hand-picked from the trees a little later. 
The results of the 1916-17 experiments proved conclusively that 
seeds from which the pulp had been removed previous to sowing, 
not only germinated more quickly'than unpulped seeds, but that. 
the percentage of seedlings rose from 9-4 in the case of seeds 
sown as gathered from the tree to 60°1 in pulped seeds. Seeds 
that fell to the ground early were found to be less fertile than 
those that remained on the trees to a later date. Before the 
removal of the pulp 5:9 per cent. of such seeds germinated, 15-6 
per cent. germiating after the removal of pulp. 
the view that pulped 
seeds: peeminsied more quickly than napedpals they also indivnted 
that the earlier germination enabled a greater percentage of seed- 
lings to reach a transplantable size; the few weeks earlier growth 
enabling them to withstand the effects of hot sun during spring. 
Seeds sown early in winter took longer to germinate than those 
sown in spring, but generally they formed sturdier plants. 
