474 



STUDIES IN SEEDS AND FRUITS 



Drying of Seeds of the Shaddock (Citrus decumana) 



WITH AND without THEIR COATS. 



The A seeds attained a stable weight in 10 days and the B seeds in 20 days, subject 

 only to the ordinary hygroscopic variation. 



In order to eliminate the influence of the coats in the B seeds the separated coats of 

 the A seeds were also experimented on. It then appeared that in the B seeds the coats 

 lost 2 grains and the kernels 357 grains. 



regime is involved. How^ever, it may be remarked that whilst the seed 

 proper required about six months, the seed in its fibrous covering 

 occupied nearly a year before a stable weight was reached. 



NOTE 7 (pp. 86, 107). 



Mould and Impermeability. 



Whilst studying in Jamaica the shrinking of the unripe or pre-resting 

 seeds of Entada scandeyis^ I found that in one set the seeds went 

 through the normal process and became typical impermeable seeds, 

 whilst in another set some of the soft white seeds were attacked by 

 mould, which destroyed the cuticle in places, its absence being indicated 

 in the coats of the hardened resting seed by light-coloured spots. The 

 results of the attack of these minute fungi were in some cases loss of 

 impermeability, excessive shrinking, and the death of the embryo 

 through the penetration of the mould into the kernel. Under normal 

 conditions the full-sized unripe seed of 1000 grains in weight would 

 weigh about 400 grains when the shrinking and hardening process is 

 complete ; but in a few weeks the mould-infested seeds were only 

 30 per cent, of their original weight, the kernels on being exposed 

 proving to be soft, sour-smelling, and in various stages of decay. 



But there were others of the same set of seeds of Entada scandem 



