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. 



EXPERIMENT II 1 



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 

 same temperature and 

 note the time of ger- 

 mination. 



Tabulate your re- 

 sults as in the previ- 

 ous experiment. 



. 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. 



FlG. 3. Soaked Peas in Stoppered Bottle, ready 

 for Exhaustion of Air. 



