GRAINS AND OTHER SEEDS 183 
Dry grains and other seeds treated for several days 
with hydrocyanic acid gas of any strength will not be 
injured for food. 
Dry grains and other seeds may be subjected for 
several months to the influence of hydrocyanic acid gas 
at the rate of one gramme or less of potassium cyanide 
per cubic foot without entirely destroying the ability 
of the seeds to germinate. 
Dry grains and other seeds subjected to the influence 
of hydrocyanic acid gas derived from one gramme of 
potassium cyanide per cubic foot will lose their germi- 
nating ability at the expiration of eight months, while 
the same seeds subjected to the gas from one-third ofa 
gramme of potassium cyanide per cubic foot will 
retain their vitality until the expiration of twelve 
months. 
Dry grains and other seeds subjected for from fifteen 
to sixty days to the influence of hydrocyanic gas from 
one-third to one gramme of potassium cyanide per 
cubic foot will hasten germination and accelerate the 
growth of the resulting seedlings. Although the 
acceleration continues for several days it does not seem 
to be of sufficient duration and degree to be of any 
practical value. 
Damp grains and other seeds are much more sensi- 
tive to the influence of hydrocyanic acid gas than dry 
seeds. 
Grains and other seeds soaked twenty-four hours or 
more will not germinate in gas stronger than three- 
thousandths of a gramme of potassium cyanide per 
cubic foot, whereas if the seeds are soaked but twelve 
hours, they are able to germinate in an atmosphere 
