272 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [APRIL 
occurs in ten-millionth normal solutions as in one-thousandth normal 
solutions. These results indicate no definite relation between the 
nature of the ion and germination. In another series of experiments 
on the relation of electrolytes to germination, with seeds from 
another crop, it was found that the germination of Verbascum 
Thapsus, Oenothera biennis, and Nicotiana Tabacum was inhibited, 
while the germination .of Rumex crispus seeds was promoted in 
darkness by the action of the various electrolytes. This suggests 
that something in the conditions of growth, maturing, harvesting, 
or storage may have changed the sign of the charge of the ionizable 
constituents of the seeds. Further work on the effects of electro- 
lytes on the germination of these seeds is highly desirable. 
Soaking in solutions of electrolytes 
It is generally believed that forcing agents of germination such 
as light, enzymes, and electrolytes are most effective during the 
early stages of incubation. KrinzEL (24) by soaking seeds of 
Nigella sativa in a solution of papayotin and asparagin for 5 hours 
and then in water for 24 hours secured a 30 per cent increase of 
germination of “light hard” seed. OTTENWALDER (40) has reported 
that 24 hours is not sufficient time to secure the full effect of the 
acid on the germination of seed of Epilobium hirsutum, and that 
about 48 hours’ soaking was necessary to get the best results from 
the action of the acid. An attempt was made, therefore, to 
determine whether soaking in solutions of electrolytes could pro- 
mote the germination of light-sensitive seeds. 
Seeds were soaked in the various solutions for 24-28 hours and 
washed in distilled water until all of the solution was removed. 
To avoid light effects, care was taken to work in very diffuse light. 
The seeds were spread on filter paper in Petri dishes and placed to 
germinate in light and darkness respectively, at room temperature, 
for 8 days. 
An examination of table XV A shows that soaking in rather strong 
solutions of hydrochloric acid promotes the germination in dark- 
ness of seeds of Nicotiana Tabacum, Verbascum Thapsus, Oenothera 
biennis, and Rumex crispus, while it hinders the germination of 
seeds of Daucus Carota in light. The beneficial effects of solutions 
