1905. 



Adams. — Vitality of Seeds. 



8i 



Aparinc^ Dandelion, and two other species, of which one was 

 probably Spe^gtila arve7isis with the girdle rubbed oiff, and thq 

 other has not been determined. 



Of these, Perennial Ryegrass, Sweet Vernal, Rumex crispus^ 

 Ranunculus acris^ White Clover, Yellow Rattle, Plantago 

 la7iceolata^ and Dandelion still occur in the field. Few seeds 

 of these species were found except in the case of Ranu7uulus 

 acris, where they were numerous. The Wheat seed is doubt- 

 less a relic of former cultivation. The Birch and Blackberry 

 seeds are interesting cases of distribution— the former by wind 

 and the latter doubtless by birds. The nearest Birch tree at 

 present is distant about a quarter of a mile in a S.W. direction.- 

 The Blackberry seeds w^ere quite abundant, and as most of 

 them were quite empty inside, and have a very hard coat 

 which decays slowly, they probably represent the accumulated, 

 deposits of many years. - - ; 



The other seeds are all those of annual weeds, none of which 

 occur in the field, and are doubtless the representatives of] 

 former cultivation. Of this series, Che7iopodium album and 

 ^/rz)5>/i7r/«/w/a were very abundant. 



As regards the question of the vitality of the seeds, it was 

 observed that many were quite empty inside, and these floated 

 to the surface of the water during washing. The bulk of the 

 seeds w^ere, however, heavier than water, and many of these 

 when cut open were quite fresh. A few of the most likelj' 

 seeds were selected for germination, with the following result. 

 Out of five seeds of Polygoiium Co7ivolvulus, 3 germinated ; of 

 15 seeds of Atriplex patzila^ none germinated; of 5 seeds of 

 Chenopodiu77i albu77i, i germinated ; while of 10 seeds of 

 Ranu7iculus acris^ 8 germinated. It must be mentioned, how- 

 ever, that the seeds after washing had been allowed to become 

 quite dry in the meantime. , 



In the November number of the Irish Naturalist I attempted, 

 to give some reason w^hy the buried seeds do not germinate,^ 

 and the only theor}^ I could suggest was based on the pressure 

 of the superincumbent earth. Some experiments have since 

 been carried out to test the validity of this theory, with the 

 result that it is shown to be untenable — as far as some species 

 are concerned. I look a number of seeds of Barley, Turnip, 

 Red Clover, and Flax, and buried them in soil at a depth of 



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