348 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [DECEMBER 
which germination took place in the icebox, as will be shown in 
the following section. 
RAPIDITY OF GERMINATION 
Under favorable temperature conditions, five days were required 
for germination tests of balsam and cypress seeds; six days for 
cosmos, marigold, pink, portulaca, and zinnia; eight days for 
California poppy, candytuft, mignonette, and opium poppy (Papaver 
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Fic. 5.—Average rate of germination of three lots of balsam seeds 
somniferum); ten days for nasturtium, other species of poppy, 
petunia, snapdragon, and sweet pea; twelve days for pansy; and 
fifteen days for larkspur. For the germination of strong rapidly 
germinating lots of seeds, less than the number of days indicated 
is required. On the other hand, sometimes a very poor lot of 
seeds or a lot which, although producing vigorous seedlings, 
germinates slowly, may continue to germinate gradually for a few 
days longer than indicated. The warmer the temperature within 
the limit for complete germination, the more rapidly germination 
took place. A decrease of a few degrees from any given tempera- 
ture usually retarded germination more than an increase of the 
