210 TEANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



given reagent. The following table gives the results of 

 the first test experiments made with Peas : 



Absolute alcohol. 



5 days, j Germ, delayed 4 days. 

 44 p.c. 



14 days. 



Germ, delayed 6 days. 

 40 p.c. 



50 p.c. Alcohol. 



Germ, delayed 1 day. 

 46 p.c. 



Germ, delayed 6 days. 

 30 p.c. 



Mercuric Chloride. 

 Aqueous Solutiou. 



Xone 

 germinated. 



Xone. 



Water. 



These results show that with Peas 50 p.c. alcohol is 

 somewhat more injurious than absolute alcohol, that the 

 prolonged action of water is more fatal to the seeds than 

 either of these and that the aqueous solution of HgCl 2 is 

 the most fatal of all. In performing these experiments 

 there is one necessary precaution to be taken which may 

 appropriately be mentioned here. The seeds must always 

 be placed in relatively large quantities of the particular 

 solution employed. Otherwise there is a danger, which 

 is especially marked in the case of 50 p.c. alcohol and abs. 

 alcohol, that the withdrawal of matters by the seeds from 

 the medium or the addition of water extracted from the 

 seeds to the medium may vitiate the experimental results 

 obtained. 



The above table also indicates the delay of germination 

 which occurs as the result of immersion in alcohol. This 

 is probably due to the withdrawal of water from the seeds 

 but since it is also shown by seeds immersed in 50 p.c. 

 alcohol the delay in germination cannot be entirely due to 

 the withdrawal of water. Nor is it due to an increased 

 impermeability of the seed coat caused by the action of the 

 alcohol, for water passes more readily through the seed- 

 coats of seeds which have been in alcohol for some time, 

 than through those of ordinary dry seeds. The delay in 

 germination appears to be caused by a diminution of the 



