10 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY 
-9. Moisture. — What was said in the preceding section 
in regard to temperature applies also to the question of 
the best conditions for germination as regards the supply 
of moisture. The soil in which seeds grow out of doors 
is always moist; it rests with the experimenter to find 
out approximately what is the best amount of moisture. 
1 EXPERIMENT II! 
Relation of Water to Germination.— Arrange seeds in several 
vessels as follows: 
In the first put blotting paper that is barely moistened; on this 
put some dry seeds. 
In the second put blotting paper that has been barely moistened ; 
on this put seeds that have been soaked for twenty-four hours. 
In the third put 
water enough to soak 
the paper thor- 
oughly; use soaked 
seeds. 
In the fourth put 
water enough to half 
cover the seeds. 
Place the vessels 
where they will have 
ane te same temperature and 
ae note the time of ger- 
mination. 
Tabulate your re- 
sults as in the previ- 
ous experiment. 
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- Fic. 3.— Soaked Peas in Stoppered Bottle, ready 
for Exhaustion of Air. 
-10. Relation of the Air Supply to Germination. — If we 
wish to see how soaked seeds will behave with hardly any 
air supply, it is necessary to place them in a bottle arranged 
1 This may be made a home experiment. 
