18 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [JULY 
In table VII results selected from numerous investigations have 
been recast in such form as to make them comparable with the 
results on resting seeds obtained in the present study. 
In the following discussion of the respiration studies the results 
are treated as they stand. It is recognized that the temperature 
at which the experiments were carried out (20°-25° C.) was high, 
and undoubtedly led to more vigorous respiration than occurs 
at 10°C. The transfer from the latter temperature, at which 
the seeds were stored when under after-ripening or germinating 
conditions, to the higher temperature of the water bath, may in 
TABLE VI 
RESPIRATORY INTENSITY 
CATALASE ACTIVITY CO./0: 
Mg. CO, Mg. 0, 
eliminated absorbed 
t, A este et Chenopodium | Chenopodium | Rum 
a Blue ; pod lone or eee Rumex Blue gage plum Chesca 
3. Crataegus (imbibed)....... Amaranthus Apricot Burbank plum 
4. Crataegus (as nese from 
CN ee herry umex Sand cherry 
&. Ameraninus,. 2500.03 Blue gage plum | Cherry Amaranthus 
6: Chenopotiiom. 06560... and cherry Arvataivthies Cherry 
7. Blue gage plum (as removed 
front carpels) 6.20% 2. 6.3: Apricot Peach egus 
S. Burbank phim... .,...<. +6, Burbank plum | Sand cherry Blue gage plum 
bP OER Gee yews ci ie eevee ae each Burbank plum | Peach 
MO i oe a hoi Crataegus Apricot 
itself have accelerated respiration. In the case of apple, Har- 
RINGTON (25) finds great diminution of the respiratory intensity at 
low temperature. An investigation of the respiratory intensity of 
the seeds used in the present instance for ten degree intervals of 
temperature will throw light on this point. 
The problem of the longevity of seeds is still unsolved, although 
various theories have been advanced. Loss of vitality might result 
from exhaustion of stored food, degeneration of enzymes, accumu- 
lation in respiration or digestion of substances toxic to the seed, or 
from still other internal changes in the seed substance inimical to 
its life. Groves (14, 23) found that life duration of Triticum 
sativum was a logarithmic function of the temperature, and 
LEPESCHKIN’S time-temperature formula for the coagulation of 
