4i6 
ALFRED DACHNOWSKI 
salts having a common anion the order of effectiveness of the kation 
is K, Na and Ca, the ion most effective in bringing about an increase 
in the retention of water being placed first. The order of the effective- 
ness of the anions is SO4, CI and NO3. This order is nearly identical 
with that in which the different acids affect the water retaining 
capacity of seeds. 
5. The addition of equimolecular solutions of non-electrolytes to 
an n/800 HCl solution (table II) does not increase to any extent the 
amount of water retained by seeds. Sucrose brings about greater 
depression through its presence than dextrose. The most striking 
exception to the lack of antagonistic action of non-electrolytes is 
glycocoll. The amino acid accelerates, apparently, both hydrolytic 
and certain synthetic reactions. An instance of the catalytic action 
of amino acids is referred to by Dakin (6). 
6. The conclusions for the results on the absorption and retention 
Table III 
The Water Content of Bean Seeds {Phaseolus muUiflorus) in Equinormal 
Alkaline Solutions 
Two seeds in each 100 c.c. solution 
Time Interval in Hours 
H2O 
KOH «/8oo 
NH4OH «/8oo 
Ca(0H)2 nlZoo 
NaOH «/8oo 
Hours 
Minutes 
2.090 
2.890 
2.020 
2.051 
2.260 
2 
2.692 
2.930 
2.550 
2. no 
2.910 
6 
30 
3-508 
3.081 
3-650 
2.240 
3-240 
16 
30 
4.220 
3-992 
4-255 
3.220 
3-405 
20 
30 
4.220 
4-477 
4.300 
3-861 
3-560 
26 
30 
4-341 
5.350 
4-380 
4-239 
4-195 
40 
30 
4-463 
6.650 
4.480 
4-500 
4-930 
48 
30 
4-397 
6.745 
4.500 
4-563 
4.980 
65 
4-430 
6.725 
4-545 
4.622 
5.060 
89 
30 
4-365 
6.650 
4-532 
4.660 
4-950 
116 
4-250 
6.323 
4.428 
4.690 
4.922 
30 
4.230 
6.407 
4-315 
4.700 
4-843 
164 
30 
4.223 
6.410 
4.220 
4.692 
4-845 
4.220 
6.460 
4-151 
4.688 
4.810 
Maximum percentage 
224.4% 
223.8% 
increase 
212.9% 
233-4% 
225.% 
of water by seeds in the alkaline solutions are the analogue of those 
for the acids (table III). Seeds of Phaseolus muUiflorus absorb and 
retain more water in the solution of any alkali than in distilled water. 
Only within certain limits of concentration is there an increase in the 
