



1901] EFFECT OF HYDROCYANIC ACID GAS 253 
TABLE IIL 
Germination of damp seeds and subsequent growth of resulting seedlings in hydro- 
cyanic acid gas; temperature throughout about 18° C. 



Amount of KCN per cubic foot Time of —  e pre 5 
soaking germination germination seedlings 
ODO We ces ve a ea Seg 24 hours 24 hours 100 normal 
MOS oar oe Senge ag tine, Y 2405" 405-0" bs go very slow 
ROTO. aspene ee a Cislshin Nanas oo 248 no germination fc) sees 
OG te crating ice at os BA te no germination fo) 
PrOO0r We eee eo a Ba IES no germination fe) 
GLI Ome Relate tet aie pe hae aes 0 no germination fc) 




It will be observed in table III that the amount of KCN used 
varied from 0.003 to 0.0758" per cubic foot, but that no germina- 
tion took place if more than 0.0038" was used, and indeed in this 
Strength of gas germination was delayed for six days. Other 
quantities of KCN between 0.003 and 0.0108 were used, but the 
seeds seemed to be unable to germinate in any charge stronger 
than 0.003%" per cubic foot. The subsequent growth of the 
seedlings in this very small amount of hydrocyanic acid gas was 
very slight, and did not exceed two inches in ten days, in some 
instances the growth being only a fraction of an inch. 
TABLE IV. 
Same as table III, except that the seeds were soaked for a shorter time before placing 


| Time required Percentage | Subsequent 
Amount of KCN bic foot Salen cleo for of growth 
are mann soaking | germination germination| of seedlings 
ety ahem sale eee er me cake “ hours | 4 hours 100 . 
sce acl) nas OG Sa APE RSA aes 36 80 slight _ 
CO rt Gi ay = 62:5 40 very slight 
Se ae aise es ak eG eaten ee 20 none 
ght ce re. 12" no germination ty) 
pF Ac ale Orso ge a ane eo i Sie ° 





In the experiments recorded in table IV the seeds were 
soaked only twelve hours, but the control seeds germinated in 
practically the same time as in the preceding case where the 
seeds were soaked for twenty-four hours. It is also important to 
