210 



M. M. McCooL 



INFLUENCE OF CERTAIN SALTS ON GERMINATION OF CANADA FIELD PEA 



SEED 



Experiments have been conducted also to determine the influence of 

 various substances on the germination of pea seed. These experiments 

 comprised two series: in the first series the effect of steeping the seed m 

 pure solutions of the substances was determined; in the second, the effect 

 of adding the solutions to a given soil vs^as ascertained. 



The procedure in the first series was as follows: Fifty uniform seeds 

 were chosen and were steeped for twenty-four hours in 200 cubic centi- 

 meters of pure solutions of each substance to be studied. Following 

 this treatment the seeds were removed, carefulh' rinsed in distilled water, 

 and placed between filter papers over moistened sphagnmn. TVTien the 

 roots of the control seed — those steeped in distilled water for twenty- 

 four hours — had grown to about two inches in length final notes were 

 taken. 



The conditions for germination were identical, inasmuch as the treated 

 seeds and the controls were placed in the same germinating pan. Ordi- 

 nary room temperatures were maintained. The results obtained are 

 summarized in the following table: 



TABLE 9. The Effect of Certain Salts on Germination 



Experiment with CaCU 



Steeped for twenty-four hours 

 in following solution 



Percentage 



of 

 germination 



Notes on condition of roots 



Distilled water 



96 to 98 



10 



95 

 96 



Uniform germination. Roots 6.25 centi- 



N/1 CaCh 



meters in length 

 Roots about .6 centimeter in length, en- 



N/SCaCh 



larged, tips dead 

 Roots about 1.25 centimeter in length 



N/5CaCl2 



No injury 



