22 



STUDIES IN SEEDS AND FRUITS 



noted lends a double support to this view, since it indicates 

 that if less than the normal amount of water is lost in the 

 shrinking process, less is also required in swelling for germina- 

 tion. In Table A the histories of single seeds, and in Table 

 B the history of a group of seeds, are followed in all three 

 stages, the pre-resting, the resting, and the swollen stage 

 preparatory for germination. 



A. — Showing the Weights of the same Seed in its Unripe or 

 Pre-resting Condition, in its Resting Stage, and on the Eve 

 of Germination. 



The same 

 leciprocal 

 Relation be- 

 tween the 

 shrinking 

 and swelling 

 processes is 

 established 

 by independ- 

 ent observa- 

 tions on a. 

 number of 

 seeds. 



JVo(e.—Al\ the seeds in these experiments germinated. Those of Guilandina bonducella 

 did not complete the shrinking process, becoming permeable but "germinable" seeds. 

 The ratios obtained independently for the normal impermeable seeds are in this case 

 given in brackets. 



The general indications afforded by observing individual 

 seeds from the pre-resting stage to germination are confirmed 

 and extended by the large amount of additional data given in 

 the two tables subjoined. In Table A are arranged all my 

 results on the shrinking and swelling ratios of seeds belong- 

 ing to about ninety-six species, of which all but those in the 

 supplementary list of palm seeds, etc., belong to the present 

 discussion. They have for the most part been obtained 



