62 



Effect of Alcohols on Germination. 



In order to determine the effect of soaking corn, peas, 

 and lupines in alcohols of various strengths the folio-wing per 

 cents were used: Absolute, 95 % 75 X, 50 %, 30 20 10 

 and distilled water. Into each of these grades of alcohol one 

 hundred seeds of each kind were placed. Five seeds of each kind 

 were taken from the respective alcohols after soaking for the 

 time indicated in table 20, and planted in a saw-dust germinator 

 The time was extended much longer than indicated in the table 

 but as no seeds germinated the table was not made to include 

 that part of the experiment. 



The table shows that some seeds soaked in absolute al- 

 cohol will grow even after six or seven days soaking. More 

 seeds of the peas and lupines grow after soaking in absolute 

 alcohol than when soaked in water and other wise treated in 

 the same manner. Thirty four per cent of the peas soaked in 

 95 % and six per cent of corn soaked in 10 per cent alcohol 

 germinated. There are occasional ones germinating in all al- 

 cohols except 30 % and 20 % m The time for germination, after 

 removal from alcohol is, on the average twenty four hours less, 

 in case of the water soaked seeds than in case of absolute 

 alcohol immersed seeds of the same kind. Peas retain their 

 vitality much longer in absolute alcohol than in water 



