1921] GARDNER—GERMINATION 265 
weight basis. To confirm the results obtained a second series 
was treated similarly. Failing to obtain concordant results, two 
additional series of determinations were made. The variation in 
time of the appearance of the first hypocotyls and the uneven 
surfaces of the seed coats account for much of the variation in the 
amount of water absorbed. The results are given in table X. 
In view of the small size of the seeds, their irregular surfaces, 
the difficulty of uniform drying, and the increase of weight on 
account of germination, the data of these determinations are not 
TABLE X 
SERIES 1 | SERIES 2 | SERIES 3 SERIES 4 
Percen roe: Per 
poiare No. of No. of iS No. of vgn No. of 
ety 
SEEDS imi aed sprouts imbibed sprouts | im sprouts | im inabibet sprouts 
water 
Light 
Nicotiana Tabacum...... 2.0 |> 13 | 62.9) 36. (OBS 3 | 65.5 8 
Verbascum Thapsus 63.3]. 22.1 58.8 2. 000.0 | 238 bos.8 6 
Daucus Cetoter. ooh. 5 114.5 2 | 92.4 Se 4 | 64.8 4 
ae deg biennis......., 40.7 Oe tee OBE hc Ory a 36.4 | at 
Rumex crispus.......... 48.4 rice ae ee | a4 a4.4 454.971. 20 
Darkness 
Nicotiana Tabacum...... 60.0 o | 50.0 Seber I 63.6 ° 
Verbascum Thapsus..... 81.2 o | 68.0 o | 90.0 2 {| 96.9 ° 
mucus Carota foe 90.7 o 1 40.5 17 Oy.3 tT 64.0 6 
othera biennis....... 45-1 o |108.5 I | 49-4 tr | 49-9) 
Rumex crispus.......... 83.2 8. | 52:4 t | 48.9 t | 45-8| 10 
surprisingly discordant. In some cases the high percentages of 
water absorbed is accounted for by the many and large seedlings 
which could not be removed without more seriously changing the 
data. After eliminating the cases open to suspicion on account 
of the numerous sprouts, imperfect drying, etc., there appears to be 
relatively little difference in the percentage of moisture absorbed 
by seeds germinated in light and darkness. In Nicotiana Tabacum 
seeds of series 4 the imbibition is 65.5 per cent with 8 sprouts in 
light, while in series 3 the imbibition is 67.7 per cent with one 
sprout in darkness, from which it appears that germination may 
occur even though a smaller percentage of water is absorbed. A 
