WATER AND GERMINATION 



209 



Percentage of Water contained by Seeds at 

 Saturation 



Germination itself does not go on freely until this 

 maximum saturation has been reached. Therefore, 

 if the moisture in the soil is low, the absorption of 

 water is made difficult and germination is retarded. 

 This shows itself in a decreased percentage of ger- 

 mination. The effect upon germination of the per- 

 centage of water in the soil is well shown by some of 

 the Utah experiments, as follows : — • 



Effect of Varying Amounts of Water on Percentage of 

 Germination 



