418 



Miss J. White. The Ferments and [Mar. 3, 



The paper is divided into sections, the first of which relates to the relative 

 germinating powers of grains of various ages, and as far as possible obtained 

 from different sources. 



The second section deals with the connection (if any exists) between the 

 age of the seeds and the persistence of their enzymes, with special reference 

 to any possible co-relation between the germinating power retained by the 

 stored grains and their enzymes. 



The third section is a detailed account of experiments performed on the 

 seeds at temperature extremes, more especially concerning their germinative 

 capability and their enzyme reactions, as in the previous section. 



The fourth section is a brief account of experiments concerning the 

 respiratory activity of certain seeds in a more or less dried condition and the 

 results obtained therefrom. 



1. Germinating Power of Seeds. 



The germination capacity of all the specimens received was tested, and 

 the data so obtained are shown in the columns below. From 50 to 100 seeds 

 from each packet (the number depending on the quantity of material at my 

 disposal) were sown on damp blotting paper placed in glass basins, which 

 were put under a glass frame in the conservatory to which air had free 

 access. The temperature of the conservatory was kept fairly constant at 

 about 23° C. 



The comparative germinating capabilities are given in the following 

 table (A) : — 



Germination Table A. (Wheat.) 



Age. 



Percentage 

 germinated. 



Place of origin. 



Age. 



Percentage 

 germinated. 



Place of origin. 



6 months 



100 



S. Australia. 



84 years 



32 



S. Australia. 



6 „ 



100 



Victoria. 



84 „ 



3 



Victoria. 



14 years 



100 



S. Australia. 





32 



S. Australia. 



-■-2 ,) 



100 



Victoria. 



94 „ 







Victoria. 



24 „ 



100 



S. Australia. 



104 „ 



28 



S. Australia. 



■^2 J) 



100 



Victoria. 



104 „ 







Victoria. 



34 „ 



100 



S. Australia. 



1U „ 



12 



S. Australia. 



^=2 33 



100 



Victoria. 



114 „ 







Victoria. 



44 „ 



92 



124 „ 



4 



S. Australia. 



44 „ 



90 



New South Wales. 



134 „ 







)j 



64 ,, 



77 



S. Australia. 



154 „ 







j) 



64 „ 



42 



Victoria. 



164 „ 



2 



>j 



64 „ 



39 



New South Wales. 



17, 18, 19, 







74 „ 



68 



S. Australia. 



20, and 21 



} ° 



n 



H „ 



16 



Victoria. 



years 







