184 miscellaneous experiments 



Experiment 63 

 Object: To ascertain the effect of radium rays on the " sprout- 

 ing " of a potato tuber {Solatium tuberosum). 



May 21, 12 130 P. M. 



A glass tube containing RaBrj (1,500,000 x ) was inserted in a 

 hole made in a tuber just beneath one of the " eyes," near the prox- 

 imal end of the tuber. A portion of the other end was cut off, and 

 the tuber was placed with the cut end in a tumbler of water in front 

 of a window under a bell jar. 



May 25, 10 A. M. 



Sprouts are growing from all of the eyes, but there is no signifi- 

 cant difference in their appearance or size. They all appear equally 

 green and healthy. 



Experiment 64 



Object : To ascertain the effect of the rays from polonium on 

 the germination and growth of timothy grass seed. 



March 19, 6 P. M. 



Several timothy grass seeds were placed in a narrow glass tube, 

 and one end of a metallic rod coated with polonium was placed in 

 among the seeds. 



March 26, 11 A. M. 



After 161 hrs. exposure, the seeds were sowed in soil in a flower 

 pot, together with a sowing of unexposed seeds in another pot as a 

 control. 



March 30, 10:30 A. M. 



The seeds are all growing vigorously, and there is no appreciable 

 difference between the exposed and the control seeds. 



Experiment 65 

 Object : To ascertain the effect of the thorium rays from a " Wels- 

 bach" gas mantle on the germination and growth of timothy grass 

 seed. 



June 9, 10 A.. M. 



Unsoaked seeds of timothy grass were sown in a row across the 

 surface of the moist soil in a "Zurich" germinator. Lying hori- 



