the Vitality of Seeds by an Electrical Method,. 



87 



Seed. 



No. 21.. 



» 22.. 



„ 23.. 



„ 24. . 



„ 25.. 



» 26. . 



„ 27.. 



„ 28.. 



» 29. . 



„ 30. . 



Average 



1899 

 (after three days 

 in water). 



-0-0300 

 ■0 0150 

 -0-0200 

 ■0-0200 

 •0-0250 



•o-oioo 

 -o-oioo 



•0-0250 

 0-0175 

 •0-0200 



Seed. 



No. 31 



„ 32 



„ 33, 



„ 34. 



» 35. 



„ 36. 



„ 37. 



„ 38, 



» 39. 



„ 40. 



0-01925 



1899 

 (after four weeks 

 soaking in water, 

 i.e., rotting). 



Remarks. — The seeds of 1860 gave no blaze currents, nor any sign of germina- 

 tion. All those of 1899 gave blaze currents and germinated vigorously. In con- 

 sequence of prolonged immersion under water, other seeds of 1899 became water- 

 logged, and finally gave no blaze current nor sign of germination. 



Four weeks is not a minimum time. I have found beans to be without excep- 

 tion completely drowned at the end of 5 days' immersion in water at 25°, and this 

 period has probably not been a minimum. The shortest time of soakage after which 

 I have observed the blaze has been one hour. 



Table II. — Comparison between Beans of the years 1895 to 1899. 

 Forty-eight hours' soakage at room temperature. Averages of 10 

 seeds of each year. Germination test not made. 



| : 



Weight of 10 seeds — 

 Before soaking . . . 

 After soaking .... 



1895. 



1896. 



1897- 



1898. 



1899. 



grammes. 

 6-2 

 13*9 



5-8 

 7-6 



6-2 

 12-5 



3-3 

 6-4 



4-8 

 10-5 



Average blaze. . 



-0014 



-0036 



-0043 



-0052 



-0170 



Table III. — Do., do. Time of soakage not noted (1 36 hours). 

 October 15. 



Average blaze .... 



-0008 



0-0027 



0-0031 



-0035 



-0086 



Table IY. — Do., do., but a different series. 



Average blaze . . . 



-0030 -0028 



I 



0-0033 ! 0-0240 



-0260 



VOL. LXVIII. 



H 



