ripening of the seeds. This is connected with the desiccation and its 

 attendant preservative effect above-mentioned. 



As an instance, I will mention that the beet and grass seeds — and 

 some others also — harvested in Hungary, where the climate is of a marked 

 continental character, possess a much greater germinating power £han 

 seeds of the same species harvested in more Northern districts. 



The next question, which belongs really to the scope of physiology, 

 is : " What causes the natural death of the seed ? " 



In the literature on the subject we find several causes given, one 

 positive, the others negative. 



The positive cause, apart from catastrophic influences, is a degree of 

 desiccation at which the embryo becomes separated from the nom-ishing. 

 tissue and is, therefore, a cause of a physical nature. These seeds are for 

 the most part carbonized by slow oxydation, and the connection of the 

 inner parts broken. This is the case with such mummy wheat and Peruvian 

 maize as have hitherto been examined With scientific accuracy. These 

 were found in ancient tombs, but the reports of their germination belong 

 to the reakn of fable. Nevertheless, such rumours continually recur and, 

 indeed, quite recently, a "Tutankhamen" wheat has appeared on the 

 market. 



As a physiological cause of death, the expiration or slow consiimption 

 of the nourishing matters contained in the seed must be rejected — thanks 

 to the efficient labours of physiologists in recent times, especially those of 

 Pavl Becqixerel. That the disintegration of certaiarnore labile substances, 

 for instance, the oils and fats, diminishes the duration of the germinating 

 capacity, is also an assertion Which cannot be maintained. It is notable 

 that certain seeds which are rich in fat, such as the Cucurbitaceae, 

 Charlock and Hedge mustard, preserve their germinating power for an 

 exceptionally long period. 



Then, again, the decay of the diastasic effect of the enzymes has beerL 

 designated as a cause of natural death ; this, also, in the case of man. 

 This is another alleged cause which cannot be accepted. I will only refer 

 here briefly to the latest experiments of Hugo Miehe,* who has established 

 that, in the case of rye-seed, at least 120, and possibly 280, years old,, 

 in which the embryo Was already separated from the nourisMng tissue^ 

 the diastase obtained from the still intact nourishing tissue was yet 

 capable of decomposing starch, and that, therefore, the efficiency of the 

 enzymes survives the life of the germ. Thus, this mystery also, like so 

 many others connected With the life of the grain of seed, remains still 

 unsolved : in this respect we are still to-day in the same position as 

 Becqtterel (23G) who, after solving so many detailed physiological problems, 

 nevertheless, with regard to the main questions, came only to thd 

 conclusion, " La verity c'est, qu'on n'en sait rien." 



Speech delivered by Dr. Arthur C. Benson, C.V.O., LL.D., at 

 the Magdalene College Lunch, on the 10th July: — 



"It is a great pleasure to us to welcome here the members 

 of so distinguished a congress. It is true that all congresses 

 are in a sense distinguished, inasmuch as. they are representative. 

 But this congress is what many congresses are not — not only 

 ornamental, but positively useful and beneficial. 



" To-day, it has been truthfully said, the world is ruled 

 by experts. The old Gospel promise was, Blessed are the meek — 

 for they shall inherit the earth. Well, gentlemen, I have known 

 many experts. They have been modest, gracious, courteous, 



* Berichte der deutschen botan Ges., 41, 1923 : 263. 



