19 



in a saw-dust germinator by themselves. At the same time seven 

 of those seeds remaining unswollen were also placed in the 

 germinator. The remaining fourteen of the unswollen seeds were 

 placed in two groups of seven seeds each and after the seed 

 coat of each seed in one set had been cut through the two sets 

 were weighed. They were placed in separate bottles of water. 

 At intervals of two hours the seeds were taken out, wiped dry, 

 and weighed. The results are shown below. 





Time: -9: 20 



11:20 



1:20 



3:20 



Set 



1. cut ,75 



.98 



1 47 



• 



1 55 



• 



Set 



2. entire .83 



.83 



.83 



83 



• 



It will be observed that Set 1. gained more than 100^ in 

 these six hours while Sat 2 had not taken up any water. Both 

 sets were now placed in the germinator. The temperature of the 

 germinator was very near 25° C, and the saw-dust kept quite 

 moist; probably too wet, for after twenty six days the seeds 

 were dug up and all seeds which were swollen when placed in 

 the germinator were rotten. One seed of Set 2 was large, heavy, 

 and soft from the water absorbed, while all other seeds, un- 

 swollen when placed in the germinator, were still in the same 

 condition, unaltered by the amount of moisture which, probably 

 caused the destruction of those which had previously absorbed 

 water. 



