31 



are not recorded in this work, shows a decided increase by treatment 

 proving conclusively that the beneficial effect of electricity upon 

 growing plants is quite constant. 



SUMMARY. 



1. Electricity exerts an appreciable influence upon the germina- 

 tion of seeds. 



2. The application of certain strengths of current to seeds for 

 short periods of lime accelerates the processes of germination. 



(a). As a result of experiment it has been found that at the end 

 of twenty-four hours over thirty per cent more seeds were germi- 

 nated in the treated lots than in the normal. At the end of forty- 

 eight hours about twenty per cent and in seventy-two hours six per 

 cent. 



3. Those lots of seeds, receiving electrical stimulation gave a 

 higher percentage of germination than the normal. 



4. The range in the strength of current which accelerates germi- 

 nation is exceedingly limited. 



[>. The effect of electricity upon the germination of seeds shows 

 that there is a maximum, optimum and minimum current. 



6. The minimum strength of current which just perceptibly accel- 

 erates germination when an interrupted induced current is used, is 

 quite close to number 17 in the tables and probably represents con- 

 siderably less than one volt. 



7. The optimum strength of current which shows the maximum 

 growth of radicles and hy[)ocotyls is equal to about 3 volts where 

 an interrupted induced current is used. 



<S. The maximum current which the seed germ can withstand 

 without being destroyed has not been ascertained in these experi- 

 ments but probabl}' represents a comparatively high voltage. 



9. The optimum strength of cuirent is piactically (onstant for 

 such small seeds as mustard, red clover, etc. 



10. The optimum current for radicles and hypocolyls is the 

 same. 



11. Seeds subjected to but one application of electricity show 

 the effect only for a few hours. 



(a). In those lots of seeds which received an optimum strength 

 of current, an increaseof over thirty percent in the length of radicles 

 was fijund at the end of seventy-two hours, while at the end of 



