




Igo1 | EFFECT OF HYDROCYANIC ACID GAS 247 
the same manner and kept under exactly the same conditions as 
in the subsequent experiments, except that they were not sub- 
jected to the influence of the gas. 
The first line in each table expresses the result of the con- 
trol experiments for that particular set of experiments, so that 
in whatever manner the seeds under examination behaved it was 
clear that the variation in behavior from the seeds in the control 
experiments resulted entirely from the effect of the hydrocyanic 
acid gas. 
In all cases it was found that the seeds that had been sub- 
jected to the gas for one hour germinated just as readily as if 
they had not been in the gas at all. Hence it may be con- 
cluded that perfectly dry seeds may be subjected for a short 
time to the influence of gas six times as strong as that ordinarily 
used in fumigation without any appreciable injury to the ger- 
minating quality of the seed. 
TABLE I. 
Dry seeds subjected to the influence of hydrocyanic acid gas, then soaked and placed 
under conditions favorable for germination; temperature 18° C. 


oo of — Time of expo- | Time of soaking | a, ime required Percentage of a pr 
cubic sure to gas rt germination | germination ceadies 
a 
C00 irate: I hour 24 hours 24 hours 100 normal 
0.25 I ““ 24 6c 24 ‘6 100 “ 
0.45 I ‘“ 24 se 24 $6 100 6 
0.60 i 24 ue 24 ee 100 " 
0.75 ee 24 ‘“ 24 #6 100 i 
1.00 I ‘“ 24 ‘ 24 bad 100 & 
1.25 : Peed 24 es 24 hs 100 . 
1.45 sai of ae ee 100 








Subsequent experiments.—In the trial experiments the seeds 
were subjected to the influence of hydrocyanic acid gas for one 
hour only. In order to determine the influence of this gas upon 
seeds exposed for a long time, subsequent experiments with dry 
seeds were undertaken. The seeds were placed in shallow dishes 
which were covered by bell jars, made air tight, and the gas 
generated in the manner described. Control experiments were 
Started at the same time, in which the seeds were covered by 
