THE A WA KEN ING OF THE SEED 25 



this with the gain of the seeds which were deprived 

 of their covers at the start. After another half an 

 hour, remove another lot arid weigh; repeat this each 

 half -hour. Any seeds may be used; it would seem 

 desirable to test some which have thin covers (Bean, 

 etc.) and some which have thick covers (Filbert, 

 Peach, etc.). 



If you can obtain seeds of the Moonfiower, Mexican 

 Morning-glory or Lupine, the weighing will be un- 

 necessary; the results will be sufficiently striking to 

 the eye to leave no room for doubt. 



Nurserymen recognize that the covers of many 

 seeds (e. g., Peach pits, etc.) are a hindrance to 

 germination, and before planting them usually cracK 

 the cover: other seeds have the covering cut by a 

 knife or file, while still others are mixed with sand 

 and rubbed or pounded. Acacia seeds are boiled 

 for five or ten minutes, which aids the penetration 

 of water through the hard coat and makes a difference 

 of months in the germination, while some kinds are 

 placed in boiling water and allowed to cool slowly. 1 



How much water is necessary for germination? We 

 may get an approximate answer to this question by 

 taking several pots of the same size, filling them with 

 dry sand and placing in each twelve seeds (the same 

 sort in each pot). Water the pots regularly, giving 

 to No. 1 a very small quantity of water each time, 



1 The heat may have an important stimulating effect. 



