126 



Lot No. 1 showed 200 eornis. 208 leaA'es, i. e., 52 "blind" conns. Total 

 germination 86.G per cent. 



Lot No. 2 showed 24(; cornis, 22G leaves, i. e.. 20 "blind" conns. Total 

 germination 83 per cent. 



Lot No. 3 showed 201 conns. 2(i!) leaves, i. v.. 7>2 "blind" conns. Total 

 germination 87 per cent. 



It is not the purpose of this paper to discuss the variations which 

 may be due to different temperature conditions, but merely to show tlie 

 high percentage of germination and to indicate the fact that some seeds 

 germinate "blindly."' that is. the embryo grows, a corm and roots are 

 produced, and food is transferred from seed to corm without the forma- 

 tion of leaves or other photosynthetic organ. At the end of the growing 

 season the connection with the seed is broken off, leaving the new plant 

 independent. 



A glance at the cin'ms from these cultures at once suggests a differ- 

 ence in their food supply and growth. Some are three to six times as 

 large as other.s. While the numbers of large and small corms are not 

 exactly the .same ;is the numbers of leafy and leafless plants, they are 

 nejirly enough so to suggest a relntion. 



A similar set of experiments was arranged in which seeds of Arisonia 

 Dracontiinii were used. The seeds were jirepjired and planted T)e((>niber 

 20. i;»12. the s.-inie ;is in the cMSe of 1. I riitlt /ill u iii . Lot No. 1 Wiis left 

 in the main room of the greeidiouse, and showed, between I'Y'bruai'y G and 

 .March 8, lUI.'J, eight leaves. On .Tune 1!), 200 corms and 24 seennngly good 

 s(>(>ds wer(> removed. 



Lot No. 2 was left in the cold-frame from December 2G to ISIarch 

 15 and then removed to the greenhouse. This culture showed eleven 

 leaves between April ;'. ;iii'l April 2.". On ,Tune 20, 170 corms and one 

 sound seed were removed. 



Lot No. 3 was left in the greenhou.se vestibule until March 12. and 

 then removed to the greenhou.se. Between April 23 and June 20 foui- leaves 

 appeared, and on the List date 187 corms were removed. These results 

 are tabulated below. 



Lot No. 1. :!00 seeds, 8 leaves (2.66 per cent.), 279 (93 per cent.) 

 corms and viable seeds. 



Lot No. 8. 200 seeds. 11 leaves (G.ll pei- cent), 180 (90 per cent.) 

 corms and viable seeds. 



