264 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [APRIL 
was taken to plunge them promptly into cold distilled water, when 
the hot water was squeezed out. The seeds were then placed to 
germinate for 7 days at room temperature under the usual con- 
ditions. Table IX indicates what may be expected of hot water 
treatment of seeds. Treatment at lower temperatures was inef- 
fective and so was not tabulated. The experiment was begun 
March 4. 
The results of the warm bath treatment are mostly negative. 
The percentage of germination of Rumex crispus in darkness is 
TABLE IX 
a TREATMENT AT areas AT | TREATMENT AT UNTREATED; 
He |g90°C.; GERMINA-|75°C.; GERMINA-|60° C.; GERMINA-| GERMINATION 
4 a TION AT ROOM TION pe ROOM TION ar ROOM AT ROOM 
z = TEMPERATURE | TEMPERATURE | TEMPERATURE | TEMPERATURE 
SEEDS > e R 7 DAYS FOR 7 DAYS odie FOR 7 DAYS 
Oo 
at, 
#2 1a Dark- | 7; Dark- | 7; Dark- | ;; Dark- 
= Light | ‘ness | Light | “ness | Light | ‘ness | Light | ‘ness 
NicotianaTabacum| o. 25 4 2 ro) ° 42 II 62 2 
NicotianaTabacum] 0.5 ° ° ° ° 50 G4) fiero ieee 
Daucus Carota...| 0.25 | 22 ° 24 6 20 3 52 g 
Daucus Carota 0.5 22 ° 36 8 40 BL vas eee 
con ice pts 0.25 ° ° 75 10 67 20 78 fc) 
erbascumThapsus| 0.5 ° ° 75 8 65 pa a Was es Bar or 
Oenothera biennis.| 0.25 | 70 22 76 20 40 8 50 6 
Oenothera biennis.| 0. 5 ° 6 80 48 28 Pee Pe ee Be 
Rumex crispus....| 0.25 | 68 40 34 12 58 35 66 18 
Rumex crispus....| 0.5 66 36 58 10 86 rae (genie) Wiceat a 
increased somewhat by treatment with hot water at 90° C., while 
that of Oenothera biennis is increased somewhat by treatment with 
hot water at 75°C. andgo° C. These results indicate the coat as the 
limiting factor in their germination. Treatment at 100° C. for short 
periods might furnish interesting information. 
Water absorption 
To determine the relation of water absorption to germination 
in light and darkness, 2 to 3 gm. of each of the different kinds of 
seeds were weighed separately and placed under favorable con- 
ditions for germination. As soon as the first germination in light 
was observed, the seeds were dried rapidly and weighed carefully, 
and the percentage of water absorbed was computed on the dry 
