No. 609] SHORTER ARTICLES AND DISCUSSION 571 



Results 



In the acetic-acid solutions mold grew vigorously and possibly 

 interfered with the growing plants. The percentage of germina- 

 tion was low. In the young plants the cotyledons were rather 

 more pointed than normal, although this modification was not 

 marked. The leaves of young rosettes also appeared more nar- 

 row and pointed, but these peculiarities disappeared as the 

 plants matured. 



All the seeds and seedlings treated with butyric acid died. 



Chloral hydrate produced no effect other than retarding the 

 period of germination, reducing its percentage, and weakening 

 the plants. 



Chromic acid produced by far the most interesting results. 

 In the various solutions used germination was prompt (about 

 the usual three to four day period) but the percentage was 

 materially lowered. The seedlings produced were vigorous in 

 appearance, although the root system was in most cases stunted. 

 There was a slight though not, I believe, significant modification 

 of the cotyledons which were somewhat less pointed than in the 

 type. Some of the seedlings were bright red and practically all 

 had a reddish or pinkish tinge. Growth after planting was 

 slow but all the plants finally developed normally. 



Ethyl alcohol produced no modification of structure, although 

 I believe that it will be worth while to continue this line of ex- 

 perimentation. In all cases where seeds were allowed to soak in 

 ethyl alcohol the solution became thick and gelatinous from a 

 substance extracted from the seeds. The percentage of germina- 

 tion was much reduced. 



Methyl alcohol retarded germination but the resulting plants 

 were fairly normal. 



Amylie, butylic and propylic alcohols all inhibited germina- 

 tion in the strengths employed. 



Germination was also inhibited by the solutions of zinc 

 sulphate, strychnine, potassium bromide and iodide and by four 

 per cent, ferric alum. 



In general it may be said that the treatment of seeds and seed- 

 lings in the experiments has resulted, as in the experiments of 

 others, in reducing the percentage of germination or in a general 

 weakening of the plants rather than in specifically modifying 

 the germinal constitution. The results from the experiments 

 with chromic acid and possibly with chloral hydrate and ethyl 

 alcohol suggest the desirability of further studies. In future 



