236 EFFECT OF DEOXYDISINGt SEED. 



to observe the effects on seeds of acetic, nitric, arid sulphuric 

 acids, and also of water rendered alkaUne by potash and 

 ammonia. " In the alkaline the seeds vegetated in thirty 

 hours, and were well developed in forty ; while in the acetic 

 and sulphuric they took seven days ; and, even after a month, 

 they had not begun to grow in the acetic." This experiment 

 led to others upon limie ; " a very easily procured alkaH, and 

 which he inferred to be more efficient than any other from the 

 well known affinity of quick or newly slacked lime for carbonic 

 acid. Lime, as taken from the quarry, consists of carbonate of 

 lime, or lirae united to carbonic acid; but, in the act of burning, 

 the carbonic acid is driven off; and hence the great affinity 

 of newly slacked lime for carbonic acid. He depended, there- 

 fore, upon this affinity to extract tlie carbon froUi the starch, 

 assisted by moisture ; " (Gard. Mag., xiv. 74) and he reported 

 that the results were exceedingly striking. Old Spruce Fir 

 seed, which would scarcely germinate at two years old, 

 produced a fine healthy crop when three years old, having been 

 first damped and. then mixed with newly slacked lime ; and, 

 under the same treatment, ari average crop of healthy plants 

 was obtained when the seed was four years old. The manner 

 in which the original experiments upon acids and alkalies were 

 conducted is not explained ; it is to be presumed that the water 

 employed was only acidulated with the acids spoken of. It is, 

 however, certain that whatever effect may be practically experi- 

 enced when particular solutions are employed it has no relation 

 to electrical action. Mr. Edward SoUy proved experimentally 

 in the garden of the Horticultural Society that electricity has 

 no discoverable influence upon vegetation either in its active 

 growth or during the period of germiuation. (See Journal of 

 Hort, Soc. vol. i., p. 81, and ii., p, 45.) 



The last method of promoting germination, to which it is 

 necessary to advert, is the mixing seeds with agents that have 

 the power of Hberating oxygen. It has been shown that a seed 

 cannot germinate until the carbon with which it is loaded is to 

 a considerable extent removed ; the removal of this principle is 

 effected by converting it into carbonic acid, for which purpose 

 a large supply of oxygen is required. Under ordinary circum- 



