476 



STUDIES IN SEEDS AND FRUITS 



it was reduced to 43 per cent, in seeds five months old and to 

 39 per cent in seeds kept two years. The ultimate death of the 

 embryo in the instance of the C seeds was not due to their being 

 attacked by the mould, which in these cases does not seem to 

 extend to the kernel ; but it was brought about by the great 

 shrinkage and loss of water which the embryo or kernel sustained 

 through the partial destruction of the impermeable cuticle by the 

 fungus. In the case of a permeable seed such a loss is fatal to its 

 germinative capacity, unless it is saved by the rapid intervening of 

 conditions favouring germination in the early stage of its history as a 

 resting seed. 



NOTE 8 (p. 109). 



Dr Gola's Tabulated Results of his Experiments on the Per- 

 meability TO Water of Seeds of different Degrees of Maturity 

 {Memorie della Reale Accademia delle Scienze di Torino, 1905.)* 



* The seeds were tested by prolonged immersion in water, 

 t Si e rigonfiato piu verde evidentemente affatto immaturo. 



X A misprint in the original ; but the correction deprives the Robinia seeds of much 

 of their claim in support of the view that impermeability and immaturity go together. 



