


Tgor | EFFECT OF HYDROCYANIC ACID GAS 249 
germinate about four months longer, but that was evidently the 
limit, as only a few of the seeds germinated very feebly at the 
expiration of that time (jig. 3,4). Not only was the germination 
hastened, but the subsequent growth was likewise accelerated for 
a limited time. Although the subsequent growth of seedlings 

a b é 
G, 2.—a, control; 4, from seeds that were eight months in des from 0.333%" 
KCN per cubic foot; c, seeds that were eight months in gas from 18" KCN per cubic 
was oe some instances very marked, being almost double that of 
the normal, this acceleration was of short duration, rarely lasting 
more than one week, and then gradually resuming the normal 
rate of growth. Hence the acceleration is probably not of 
sufficient duration to be of any commercial value. 
It appears from these experiments that dry seeds may be 
treated with hydrocyanic acid gas continuously for several weeks 
Without reducing the percentage of germination or interfering 
* 
