ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE 117 



These results indicate a range of from 10 to 17 per cent, 

 in the increase of weight which recently collected seeds of 

 Guilandina bonducella experience on being deprived of their 

 coverings. If we allow for the usual hygroscopic reaction, this 

 would probably represent a true range of 12 to 15 per cent. 



One other impermeable leguminous seed may here be 

 specially mentioned in connection with the variations in its 

 increase of weight on being exposed to the air after being 

 deprived of its coverings. Four samples of kernels of Entada The range 



J* 



scandem weighing from 100 to 260 grains increased their scandens* 

 weight during an exposure to the air of from four to ten days 

 by 4-2, 5*7, 6-8, and 12*2 per cent. The last result was 

 obtained during humid weather in Jamaica ; and it is evident 

 from the progress of the experiment which is shown below that 

 if allowance is made for the hygroscopic reaction (that is, by 

 deducting half the variation), the excess weight would not have 

 been much over 10 per cent. 



I here append the particulars of this experiment in Jamaica 

 on the bared kernel of Entada scandens, which is noteworthy as 

 illustrating the rate of increase and the effect of the ordinary 

 hygroscopic reaction on the materials. 



Original weight . . . 100 grains 



After 7 hours . ., . 102-3 



i day .... 106-5 



2 days . . . 109-1 



3 . . . no-8 



4 . . 1 12-2 



5 . . . . 112-25 



6 . . . no-8 



7 IIO ' 



10 . . . . 1 1 1-5 



14 . . . 108-1 



16 . . . . ui-i 



The average results of my experiments on the bared 



kernels of these and other leguminous impermeable seeds are General 



tabulated below, together with those for two species of impermeable 



Ipomcea ; and it is of importance to note in passing that seeds seeds - 



