176 



Alfred J, Ewart: 



ining sections of dry peas in pure glycerine. A large receiver 

 with a manometer attached showed an unchanged pressure of 

 —76 cms. for an hour after exhaustion with a double Geryck 

 pump. It was then filled with dry peas, and again rapidly ex- 

 hausted. The exhaustion required a few more strokes, and on 

 standing for an hour the pressure increased from -76 cms. 

 to —72 cms., then remaining stationary. This shows that the 

 dry peas do actually contain a little air. 



In the case of all seeds in which the seed coat wrinkles more 

 or less during absorption, the total volume shows a preliminary 

 increase, followed by a decrease, as in the case of peas, and a 

 final increase of volume, which is only apparent, and is due to 

 the production of gas. It usually begins before any actual gas 

 appears, but is then due to gas forming in the intercellular spaces 

 of the seed, and driving out some of the water contained in 

 them. 



Tick (Horse) Beans. Total Volumk 1065 cc. § Charge of Beans. 



Temperature. 





Time. 



Total Increase or 

 Decrease of Volume. 



11-4°C. 



. 



10.40 a.m. 



0-Oc.c. 



12-2°C. 





5 p.m. 



H-9 -980.0. 



12-5°C. 



- 



7.30 p.m. 



+ 9 -280.0. 



11 ^"C. 



. 



10.15 a.m. 



-2-540.0. 



12-0°C. 



. 



10 p.m. 



-4-39C.C. 



11-6°C. 



- 



10 a.m. 



+ 2 -50.0. 



Haricot Beans. 



Total 



Volume 1055 



cc. J Charge of Beans. 



Temperature. 





Time. 



Total Increase or 

 Decrease of Volume. 



12 ^"C. 





3 p.m. 



O-Oc.c. 



12-65°C. 





3.40 p.m. 



+ 2 -50.0. 



13-3°C. 





7.45 p.m. 



-4-60.0. 



11-8°C. 





10 a.m. 



-lO-OSo.c. 



12-6°C. 





5.15 p.m. 



-14-60.0. 



12 ^"C. 





7 p.m. 



-11 -20.0.* 



♦ No bubbles of gas as yet formed. 



In the case of barley and cereal grains in which the integu- 

 ments do not wrinkle while absorbing water, the total volume 

 ■contracts from the commencement until the rise due to gas pro- 

 duction begins. 



The following tests give the contractions obtained with air- 

 dried and oven-dried barley. The total volume was 1056 and 



