180 



SUGAR BEET SEED. 



receptacle, R, to hold seed to be tested. The requisite 

 humidity is supplied by filling W with water. The 

 carbonic acid formed during germination, which, if 

 permitted to remain, would retard the action sought 

 after, is absorbed by caustic potassa placed in cups, P 

 The cover, C, does not prevent fresh air from entering 

 to supply the requisite oxygen for the development of 

 the germ. The temperature of the seed is determined 

 by a thermometer, T, placed in the centre of the cover, 

 and kept in a vertical position by a cork. After a 

 few days have elapsed, the germination is complete. 



The Pagnoul germinator consists of a tin box, 

 twenty-six inches long, eight inches high and 5J inches 

 wide, covered with another box of the same kind, 

 twenty-seven inches long, eight inches wide and i^ 



Fig 55. 



inches high. The bottom of the latter has five open- 

 ings three-fourths of an inch in diameter, upon which 

 are soldered tin tubes six inches in length. In these 

 tubes are placed moistened cotton cords, which hang 

 down into the water of the box beneath. In the upper 

 box, over the end of the cotton wicks, about three- 

 fourths of an inch of sand is placed. It is evident that 

 the sand remains constantly moist, owing to the cap- 

 illary attraction of the cotton. 



A thermometer is placed in the centre tube; the 

 other four are covered by tin frames six inches long, 

 5^ inches wide and i|- inches high. Under each of 

 these the seed to be tested are placed. The frames last 

 mentioned may be covered with a sheet of glass, per- 

 mitting the progress of the germination to be watched. 



