A GRAIN OF BARLEY. ry 
cases are those of cane-sugar, maltose, and glycerine, of a low 
degree of concentration ; and alongside these are some 
embryos which have been cultivated for the same time upon 
a tile moistened with water only. You will notice, where 
water only has been employed that the growth has been of the 
feeblest possible character, whilst in the other cases a vigorous 
growth has taken place, which is the most pronounced in the 
case of the cane-sugar, and the least advanced in the 
glycerine solution. By endless variations of experiments of 
this nature I have already obtained a considerable amount 
of information about the carbohydrates and other non-nitro- 
genous substances which best favour the growth of the embryo, 
and I am equally confident that the method will throw con- 
siderable light upon the condition of the nitrogenous bodies 
best adapted to the same end, and that this, a purely 
synthetical method of experiment, will help to explain, in 
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: 
conjunction with analytical processes, a great deal that is now 
obscure in the chemistry of germination, 
Whilst on this subject I may say that it is quite possible, 
and in fact comparatively easy, to transfer the germ of one 
grain of barley to the endosperm of another, and to produce 
by this false grafting, plants which are in every way as 
healthy and vigorous as those derived from perfectly intact 
grains. For the success of these experiments it is necessary 
that the germ should be placed with its scutellum downwards 
on the new endosperm, and that it should be held firmly 
in its new position by a loop of very thin platinum or silver 
wire passed round the integuments. 
When I commenced to prepare this Address I had the 
‘intention of bringing before you very much more than I have 
been able to do this evening. Amongst other things I had 
intended to give you some description of the principal 
varieties of barley, and their variations under the changing 
influences of soil and climate, and to have examined into 
what is known historically as to their origin. I feel, however, 
that I have already trespassed far too much upon your time 
