1904.] 



PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 



33 



Effect on Germinating Seeds. 

 Two lots of one hundred seeds of each kind Avere taken. 

 These seeds were placed in porous clay dishes and soaked 

 for six hours. The first lot was placed in Case 1, and sub- 

 jected to an electrical charge every eight hours, induced 

 into the air of the case from the Holtz machine. The sec- 

 ond lot was placed in Case 2, — a small glass case, where no 

 electrical charge was allowed. In all instances the clay 

 dishes were set in basins of water, so that the seeds were 

 moist at all times. The conditions of the temperature and 

 moisture were practically the same, the former varying from 

 18° to 20° C, the latter from 76 to 85 per cent. Both 

 cases were closed, and under similar conditions. 



Table 1. — Shoiving Effect of a Positive Charge upon Ocrminating 



Seeds. 



[N, normal; C, charged.] 



Kind of Seed. 



Total Number of Seeds 

 germinated in — 



24 



Hours. 



48 7a 96 120 



Hours. Hours. Hours. Hours. 



White clover, | q' 



Onion, | ^' 



Onion ! q' 



( n' 

 Lettuce, . • J c' 



( n' 



Red clover ! q' 



Total per cent, acceleration In charged seeds. 



55.4 



23.1 



17.11 



Table 2. — Showing Effect of a Positive Charge upon Seeds that have 



lost Vitality. 



Kind of Seed. 



Musk melon, . 

 Onion (Red Globe), 

 Onion (Belden), . 



Total Number of Seeds 

 germinated in — 



24 48 



Hours. Hours. 



72 96 



Hours. Hours. 



ISO 



Hours 



