1920] JONES—MAPLE SEEDS 151 



2. With after-ripening the seeds show a considerable increase 

 in free reducing sugars. 



3. Catalase activity increases greatly with after-ripening and 

 germination; there is also a slight increase in peroxidase activity. 



4. Both the dormant and after-ripened seeds have a reaction 

 that is distinctly alkaline; this holds for the hypocotyl as well as 

 for the entire embryo. 



5. Fully after-ripened seeds will remain in this condition for 

 a long time if kept moist at — 5 C. 



Acknowledgments are due Dr. Crocker and Dr. Eckerson, 

 through whose efforts and encouragement this piece of work was 

 made possible. Many thanks are due also to Dr. T. G. Phillips, 

 who very kindly made the hydrogen ion determinations. 



West Virginia State Agricultural Experiment Station 



MORGANTOWN, W.Va. 



LITERATURE CITED 



1. Appleman, Chas. O., Relation of catalase and oxidases to respiration in 

 plants. Md. Agric. Exper. Sta., Bull. 191. i~i6. 1915. 



2. ■ ' ■ — -, Some observations on catalase. Box. Gaz. 50:182-192. 1910. 



3. Burge, W. E., Comparison of catalase content of the breast muscle of 

 wild pigeons and of bantam chickens. Science 46:440. 191 7- 



4. Chamberlain, C. J., Preliminary note on Ceratozamia. Bot. Gaz. 43 : 137, 

 1907. 



5. Crocker, Wm., Mechanics of dormancy in seeds. Amer. Jour. Bot. 



3:99-120. 1916. 



6. Crocker, Wm., and Harrington, G. T., Catalase and oxidase content 

 of seeds in relation to their dormancy, age, vitality, and respiration. 



Jour. Agric. Res. 13:137-174. 1918. 



7. Davis, W. E., and Rose, R. C, The effect of external conditions upon the 

 after-ripening of the seeds of Crataegus mollis. Bot. Gaz. 54:49-62. 1912. 



8. Delavan, C. C, The relation of the storage of the seeds of some of the 

 oaks and hickories to their germination. 17th Ann. Report, Mich. Acad. 

 Sci. 161-163. 1916. 



9. Deleano, N. T., Recherches chimiques sur la germination. Centralbl. 

 Bakt. und Par. 24 s : 130-146. 1909. 



10. Duvel, J. W. T., The vitality and germination of seeds. U.S. Bur. PL 



Ind., Bull. 58:1-96. 1904. 



