EFFECTS OF ACID AND ALKALINE SOLUTIONS UPON PLANTS 417 
quantity of water retained, and after this point is exceeded a further 
increase or decrease in concentration is followed by a diminution in 
the amount of water held. When equinormal solutions are com- 
pared, the amount of water absorbed and retained by seeds is greater 
in some alkalies than in others. Seeds of Phaseolus swell more in 
KOH than in NH4OH, and more in either of these than in CaOH or 
NaOH in the order named. The kations Ca and Na are apparently 
more active in bringing about a reduction in the water content of 
cells than either NH4 or K, — an order of effectiveness nearly the 
same as in the results with the molecularly equivalent salt solutions 
in a solution of HCl. 
7. Upon comparison of the amounts of water absorbed and retained 
in equinormal solutions of acids and alkalies (tables I and III) it is 
found that seeds of Phaseolus swell less and retain much less water 
in an acid medium than in an alkaline solution. 
The course of the absorption and retention of water in corn seeds 
Table IV 
The Water Content of Corn Seeds {Zea mats) in Acid Solutions 
Four seeds in each 100 c.c. solution 
Time Interval in Hours 
H2O 
H2SO4 nl Soo 
HNO3 n/Soo 
HCI n/Soo 
HCl «/3,2oo 
HCI nj6, 400 
Hours 
Minutes 
1. 100 
1.050 
1.070 
1. 180 
1.050 
1.035 
2 
1.270 
1.230 
1.300 
1.390 
1.310 
1.2 1 1 
6 
30 
1.400 
1.340 
1.390 
1.500 
1.390 
I.3I9 
16 
30 
1.540 
1.460 
1.510 
1.620 
1.480 
1.435 
20 
30 
1-563 
1.500 
1.540 
1.670 
I.5IO 
1.460 
26 
30 
1.642 
1-565 
1.600 
1-735 
1.550 
1. 510 
40 
30 
I.715 
1.630 
1.680 
1.805 
1.580 
1.580 
48 
30 
1.750 
1.660 
1.700 
1.830 
I.615 
1. 610 
65 
1.800 
1.702 
1.725 
1.880 
1.620 
1.642 
89 
30 
1.802 
1.702 
1.750 
1.880 
1.640 
1-675 
116 
1.800 
1.720 
1.735 
1.905 
1.640 
1.690 
137 
30 
1.800 
1.725 
1.726 
1. 921 
1.625 
1.690 
164 
30 
1.800 
1.750 
1.704 
1.950 
1.630 
1.660 
195 
1.800 
1.720 
1.700 
1-939 
1.630 
1.658 
Maximum percentage 
163.6% 
166.6% 
164.5% 
165.2% 
156.2% 
163.2% 
{Zea mais) corroborates many of the various results stated above 
(tables IV to VI). The seeds show in particular a greater water 
content in solutions of acids and alkalies than in distilled water; 
they retain varying amounts of water in equinormal solutions of 
