185 



ADDITIONAL OBSEBVATIONS on the VITALITY 

 and GEEMINATION of SEEDS. 



By A. J. Ewart, B.Sc, Ph.D. (Leipzig). 



1851 EXHIBITION SCHOLAR. LATE DEMONSTRATOR OF BOTANY IN 

 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LIVERPOOL. 



In the present paper it is proposed to give an account of 

 additional experiments which have been performed, 

 illustrating and corroborating several of the points dis- 

 cussed in a previous paper.* The results therein arrived 

 at, in three directions merited further investigation. 

 These are; the effects of prolonged immersal in water; the 

 resistance to dessication, and the oxytropic irritability of 

 young radicles. 



The results of immersal in water in which the develop- 

 ment of Bacteria, Infusoria, etc., is allowed to continue 

 unchecked (temperature 15 — 20°C.) are shown in Table 

 A., the numbers given being comparison percentages with 

 normal seeds. 



Table A. 





5 days. 



10 days. 



14 days. 



3 weeks. 



4 weeks. 



Peas - - 



66 p.c. germinated. 



9 p.c. None. 





Haricots - 



90 p.c. ,, 



None. 



None. 





Barley 



64 p.c. 



18 p.c. 6 p.c. 



None. 





Hemp - - 



85 p.c. ,, 



60 p.c. 22 p.c. 



19 p.c. 



15 p.c. 



* Trans. L'pool Biol. Soc, Vol. VIII., 1894. 



