274 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [APRIL 
Rumex crispus in solutions of sodium sulphocyanate appeared to 
promote their germination in darkness. Soaking in potassium 
sulphocyanate gave similar results. Soaking in solutions of hydro- 
gen peroxide promoted the germination of seeds of Nicotiana 
Tabacum, Daucus Carota, and Rumex crispus in darkness (table 
XV B). Germination in 0.001 N sodium hydroxide was about the 
same asino.orN. Soaking in solutions of sodium hydroxide gave 
increased germination in darkness of seeds of Verbascum Thapsus, 
Daucus Carota, and Oenothera biennis. These results were con- 
firmed by another set of tests. 
The reaction of the seeds to the different electrolytes indicates 
that the ions of the electrolytes are acting on different constituents 
of different seeds. While, as shown in the preceding experiment, 
the use of hydrochloric acid, sodium sulphocyanate, and hydrogen 
peroxide as substrata yields no increase of germination of Rumex 
crispus in darkness, this experiment shows that soaking for a short 
period (24-28 hours) in solutions of these electrolytes does pro- 
mote their germination in darkness. As Rumex crispus seeds were 
brought to germination in darkness by abrading and removing the 
coats, and by the action of concentrated sulphuric acid, their 
germination may naturally be referred to coat effects, the com- 
pounds acting on some constituent of the coat. The germination 
of Daucus Carota is not so easily accounted for. The germination 
in darkness was only slightly promoted by increased oxygen supply 
and on soil as substratum. The hydrogen peroxide may yield an 
increased oxygen supply and thus promote the germination of these 
seeds, but an explanation of the beneficial effects of sulphuric acid 
and sodium hydroxide on the same material is not easily made 
unless we refer to coat effects which have not been clearly indicated 
by other treatment. A longer period of soaking (48 hours) might 
have yielded data to settle this, as well as the failure of germination 
of the other seeds in certain solutions. 
Lipoid solvents 
Finding that lipoids occur in the coats and embryos of all the 
seeds and in the endosperm of four of them, it was thought desirable - 
to determine the effect of acetone, alcohol, and ether on their 
