Apr. 1894.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBUKGH. 193 



In selecting corns for experiment, a small sample was 

 taken, and all doubtful-looking corns carefully removed. 

 From this, two lots of identical weight, about 3 grams 

 each, were taken, one for each tube. They were steeped 

 in water in small beakers, at the same temperature, for 

 the same length of time, and were again weighed before 

 being introduced into their respective tubes. The amount 

 of moisture absorbed during steep was about 1*7 grams in 

 most cases, and did not vary more than 0*02 grams in 

 each duplicate experiment. The glass trough containing 

 the germination tubes was placed as close as possible to 

 a window having a clear look-out to the north. During 

 the experiment, air saturated with moisture was slowly 

 aspirated through the apparatus, so that the corns might 

 be continually surrounded with fresh air. The germina- 

 tion was usually allowed to proceed for ten days, or until 

 the acrospire had nearly reached the end of the corns. 

 The temperature during the whole course of the experi- 

 ments ranged between 14°"2 C. and 20°*8 C, and was 

 regulated by means of a thermostat. During the greater 

 number of the experiments the . temperature only varied 

 between 15°' 5 C. and 16°' 6 C. 



The potash bulbs were weighed after germination had 

 proceeded for three days, again after another interval of 

 three days, and finally after another interval of four days. 

 The other parts of the apparatus, including the germination 

 tubes, were also weighed at the same time, to show that no 

 moisture w\as lost or gained by the seeds experimented 

 upon. 



[Continued on next page. 



TKAXS. BOX. SOC EDIX. VOL. XX. N 



