20 1 



On Seed-Steeping, 



other as widely as possible, so as to ensure fair average results by 

 diminishing the chance of any local circumstances interfering with 

 the experiments. Each row contained thirty seeds, so that there 

 were 150 seeds of each sort, for each steep ; the seeds were sown 

 early in April. The experiment was under the care of Mr. 

 Thompson. 



1. Wheat. At first these seeds exhibited considerable dif- 

 ferences in the time required for germination, after a little time, 

 however, they came up pretty generally but grew irregularly, and 

 did not form good ears, the following table shows the number of 

 young plants up : 



Chloride of Calciui 



2 2 



2. Barley. The experiments with barley succeeded better 

 than those with wheat, two of the solutions appeared to have done 

 some good, for the seeds steeped in them at first had rather the 

 advantage over the others; this difference, however, very soon 

 disappeared, and in a short time when the plants had attained a 

 height of six inches no difference could be perceived. The plants 

 spread and formed abundance of ears, the grain in which ripened 

 well, but no marked differences could be perceived amongst them : 



