28 CHEMICAL PHENOMENA, ETC. 



are so simple as this ; we know, for example, that M. Becquerel 

 considered the organic acid which appears during germination as 

 acetic acid, whereas it is much more likely tiiat it should be the 

 lactic acid. There is certainty of the formation of an acid during 

 germination ; to prove its development it is sufficient to make a fev/ 

 moist seeds sprout on blue litmus paper, which speedily acquires 

 the permanent red tint indicating the presence of an acid. 



The volume of the air in which seeds germinate is not absolutely 

 invariable. On examining, with renewed attention, the action of 

 germinating seeds on a limited volume of air, M. de Saussure as- 

 certained that certain seeds have the property of diminishing the 

 bulk of this atmosphere, while others perceptibly augment it. It 

 must be admitted, therefore, that during germination, tlie volume of 

 carbonic acid produced is now greater, now less, than the volume of 

 oxygen gas that is consumed. The nature of the results obtained 

 appears, however, to vary in regard to the same class according to 

 the stage of the germination. 



Elementary analysis appeared to me the most satisfactory means 

 of investigating the subject of germination. I shall here recapitu- 

 late a few attempts that have been made in this direction, less how- 

 ever with a view to the final settlement of the question, than to point 

 out the general method of procedure to those who would enter far- 

 ther upon this interesting portion of physiology. The experiments 

 I allude to were made upon the seed of trefoil and on wheat. 



The seed, on being dried at a heat of 110° cent. (230° Fahr.,) lost 

 0.120 of water. Duly moistened, it was placed to sprout on a por- 

 celain plate. As soon as the radicle had attained a length of from 

 ^•gth to 2\th of an inch, each seed was placed in a stove, the temera- 

 ture of which was sufficiently high to check the growth immediately. 

 The complete desiccation was then terminated over an oil bath at a 

 temperature of 110° cent. (230° Fahr.) 



The seed put to germinate weighed 2.474 grammes, (38.193 grains 

 troy;) perfectly dry, its weight would have been 2.405 grms. (37.128 

 grains troy.) When germinated, the seed, also quite dry, weighed 

 2.241 grms. (34.596 grains troy.) 



Analysis gives us the composition of 



THK SEED BEFORE OERMtNATION. THE SEED AFTER OERMINATIOH. 



Carbon 51.5 ."id.S 



Hydrogen 6.0 O.Ii 



Azote 7.2 8.0 



Oxygen .♦■ 36.0 34.2 



100.0 100.0 



RESULTS OF EXPERI.MENT. 



(jrains troy. Carbon. Hydrogen. Oxyycn. Ai.-'.e. 



Seed placed to gemiinrite 37.12S containing 18.865 2.22.3 13.360 2.670 



Seed alter gerniinatio:i 34.5% " 17.815 2.176 11.840 2.7f]3 



Difference • — 2.-532 '■ — 1.050 — .047 — 1.520 + .093 



The total loss then during germination was 0164 grm., (2.531 grs.) 

 while the loss due to the carbon, only amounts to 0.068 grm. (1.C49 



