HYGROSCOPICITY 



165 



III. Variable Seeds. (Hygroscopicity variable.) 



(Variable seeds are those where some are permeable and others impermeable, the pro- 

 portions being very inconstant, so that the hygroscopic range for different seed-samples 

 would vary much, and could only be characterised as intermediate between that for im- 

 permeable seeds (nil) and that for permeable seeds (2 to 4 per cent.). 



Abrus precatorius 



Acacia Farnesiana . ... 

 Albizzia Lebbek . . . . ■ . 



Aquilegia (species of) 



Bauhinia (species of) 



Csesalpinia Sappan (A), mostly permeable . 

 ,, (B), mostly impermeable 



Csesalpinia sepiaria 



Canavalia obtusifolia 



Canna indica 



Cassia fistula 



,, marginata ...... 



Entada polystachya (A), mostly permeable . 



„ (B) ,, impermeable 



Enterolobium cyclocarpum . . . ' . 



Erythrina corallodendron . . . . 



,, indica ...... 



Ipomoea tuberosa ...... 



Poinciana regia 



Tamarindus indicus 



Thespesia populnea 



From the results of the observations on the hygroscopicity of 



a number of seeds which are given above it may be inferred — 



(i) That permeable seeds under ordinary weather conditions General 



vary to the extent of 2 or 3 per cent, of their weight dra^Tom 



in the course of two weeks, though the range mav *^^ author's 



oDS6rv£itions 

 be reduced to i per cent, in equable conditions, and 



increased to 4 or 5 per cent, when the weather is 



characterised by extreme changes ; ' 



(2) That impermeable seeds have practically no hygroscopic 



reaction, such small changes as do occur, as of i in 



1000 or of I in 10,000 of the weight, being either 



instrumental or connected with loose tissue adhering 



to the scar or to the raph6 ; 



