140 



I will mention here only one case in the experience of our own Hungarian 

 station, which sometimes has the task of determining seeds presumed to 

 be of ancient date. 



In the year 1911, some old seeds were discovered in jars, in the 

 so-called " tumuli " at Donnerskirohen in West Himgary. In some 

 of these seeds, which were supposed by the finders to be millet, every 

 organic ingredient had perished, and there remained only the inorganic 

 skeleton, from which we succeeded in determining the material to be the 

 rehcs of barley-seed. Along with these seeds we received the seeds of 

 a Convolvulus — ^likewise supposed to be antique — which resembled in 

 form the seeds of the Convolvulus arvensis, but were smaller and of a 

 ■ brighter colour. We were somewhat in doubt as to whether we should 

 not assign them as belonging to the Ipomaea, when, in preparing cross- 

 sections, we were struck with the soft consistency of the interior substance^ 

 Curious to see the result, we laid the seed in the germinating apparatus 

 where, after some time had elapsed, they yielded germs from which we 

 succeeded in rearing the typical Convolvulus arvensis. Subsequently 

 there came to our hands the article of Larionow*, in which it is mentioned 

 that, in middle Asia, the Convolvulus arvensis produces small, pear-shaped 

 seeds of a yellowish-grey colour and smoother surface. Our seeds, 

 therefore, were obviously Convolvulus seeds of recent date, mixed by 

 chance with the antique seed, and belonging most probably to the Eastern 

 race of this species. 



With the establishment of seed-control stations in all civUized states, 

 it becomes the task of such institutions to procure and preserve the material 

 required for future investigations. 



Here I should intercalate the proposal that no station should omit 

 to provide such objects in its collection, with precise details relating to 

 the place and especially to the date of the discovery of the seed, and to 

 record, as far as possible, the method employed for its conservation. 

 The stations should also make it their task to add to their collection all 

 authentic antique material obtainable and preserve it systematically. 



I request the Congress to clothe this proposal in the form of a 

 Resolution and duly to communicate it to all existing stations. In this 

 manner much valuable material may be gathered and saved for the 

 benefit of future research. 



I remark, in passing, that old material would also furnish us with much 

 information relating to the distribution of weeds. 



The practical seed -controller is only interested to a small extent in 

 the above questions, and notably in the question as to how long the full 

 germinating capacity of the seeds of cultivated plants and of weeds will 

 last, and as to the degree to which this capacity becomes impaired with the 

 lapse of time. 



Numerous data are accessible, but many of them are contradictory. 

 Would it not be desirable to collect these data, to complete what is lacking, 

 to examine the discrepancies critically, and to place the results as a 

 synoptical whole at the disposal of the control -stations ? Would it not 

 also be desirable to include in the synopsis the results of the different 

 methods of conservation ? 



It is proved beyond do.ubt that natural desiccation, and artificial 

 deisicoation still more, is one of the most important factors in the con- 

 servation of germinating power. This, however, does not hold good for 

 all seeds. There are seeds which, after desiccation, lose their germinating 

 power (Salix, Melampyrum, &c.), or only germinate again after a 

 considerable time has elapsed. 



These, however, are exceptions, with all of which it would be of 

 great interest to get acquainted. In general, desiccation still remains 

 the best method of . .conservation, and it is truly marvellous — ■ 

 and still inexplicable — -what such a desiccated seed is capable of enduring. 



* Annalen der Bussischen Samenpriif. Stat. 1913. 



