193 
lion might be due. The result of Mr. Auchmleck s investigation, 
have been presented by him in the form of a report from which the 
following information is taken. They show that experience in 
Grenada is confirmatory of that which has been described ahead} 
from other parts of the world. 
Mr. Auchinleck points out that the low germinating power of 
imported seed is obviously due to actual sterility of the seeds to then 
rapid deterioration after maturity, or to both causes ac >ng at on« 
For the purpose of obtaining information in regard to : e ■ - S-. - 
deterioration, seeds from capsules which had been opened just befme 
dehiscence took place were planted twenty-four hours attei the ftu 
had been plucked, a few being kept, however, for three days. 1 he 
number of seeds collected altogether was 975, and 160 of these were 
set aside as being too light. That there is a great .difference : in weight 
between the heavy and light seeds is shown by the fact that 100 . f 
fbe former were found to weigh 16 oz ; while the weight of the same 
number of light seeds was only 6 ozs ; there was, however, no 
observable difference in size between the two kinds. 
In the continuation of the experiment, all the light seeds were 
planted in a bed, while of the heavy, eighty were sown at stake and 
seventy-five in pots. None of the light seeds germinated; of the 
heavy,' nineteen of those at stake, and thirteen in pots, gave sprouts- 
These results appear to justify the rejection of light seeds when .hose 
of Hevea are. being selected for planting. 
Observations oil the rapidity with which the seeds lose weight 
together with the consideration that from two weeks to several months 
are required for germination, led to the supposition that the i ate at 
which heavv seeds become lighter in the soil might result in a serious 
diminution of their power to germinate, before the young plant has 
had time to pierce the hard seed coat. This led to the following 
experiment, undertaken to find how quickly heavy Hevea seeds may 
lose weight. 
For the purpose, ten heavy seeds were packed in thoroughly 
dried charcoal, in a flask; while ten others were placed in a flask 
open to the air. Each lot was taken periodically from its flask, at the 
same time, and weighed, with the following results . 
Day of Weighing. Seeds in Air. 
Grams. 
Seeds in Charcoal. 
Grams, 
1st. 
5th 
9U1 
I5th 
20th 
25th 
30th 
42nd 
49th 
54th 
48.8 
49.0 
48-5 
43*5 
47.0 
40.5 
45-5 
38-7 
44.4 
38.0 
43-0 
37*5 
41.8 
37*2 
39 *o 
37-0 
38.0 
370 
37*5 
37-0 
