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GERMINATION OF PARA-RUBBER SEED. 
The subject of the germination of the seeds of the Para rubber is 
studied by Mr. Vernet in “ Le Contchou et la Guttapercha” of May 1908 
page 1945, who has made a series of experiments on the growth of the 
seedling. 
He put a hundred fresh seeds in a basin of earth with the micro- 
pyle end upwards and the hilum downwards, covered them with a wet 
cloth and watered it daily. 
In his first experiment, the first seed pushed out its rootlet at the 
end of seven days, the last on the thirty-third day. The greatest num- 
ber germinated between the 10th and 27th days. Ninety one per cent 
germinated. Occasionally seeds germinate in the capsule and if this 
goes on for some time the stalk and rootlet become twisted and the 
plant is spoiled. 
He then made some experiments with however only 20 seeds by 
putting them in powdered charcoal in a hermetically sealed box, for 
periods of from 1 to 40 days, then germinating them as before. 
The check experiment out of 20 seeds gave 18 germinations. Those 
enclosed in the box of charcoal for 6, 10, 12, and 14 days gave a germi- 
nation of 80 per cent. After 16 days 70 per cent, 18 days 50 per cent 
20 days 55 per cent, 20 days 25 per cent, 29 days 30 per cent, 35 days 
25 per cent, and 40 days 20 per cent. 
Prom this he concludes that dry charcoal is a bad perservative. 
In damp charcoal after 7 days he found the seeds had germinated and 
they are apt to be spoilt on the way if sent packed up thus. 
He recommeuds that the seeds should be packed in hermetically 
sealed vessels after being exposed for 24 hours to the air to get rid of 
the moisture on them. The boxes should be small in order to prevent 
heating. The small boxes should be packed in strong cases to protect 
them against variations of temperature. * 
He does not give the dimensions of the hermetically sealed cases, 
but unless they were very small the danger from heating would be 
excessive, and some packing material is certainly requisite. Seeds do 
not so far as I have seen heat with a sufficient supply of any packing 
material such as charcoal, but as a rule without any they heat and are 
spoiled in a couple of days. M. Vemet does not seem to have seen the 
accounts of packing and export of seeds published in the Bulletin. 
We have not yet found a superior packing material to the charcoal 
of rice husks for long distance sendings. In using powdered charcoal 
for packing much depends on the amount and equal distrubution 
of the moisture in it. It must not be too much or too little, and 
charcoal powder is not easy to damp equally all through, but very 
good results have been obtained by its use for long distance travelling. 
The only really reliable experiments in this direction are to be made by 
actually sending seed through the post freight. The rise and fall 
of temperature while passing through hot and cold regions may affect 
a case even hermetically sealed, as also may the rise of temperature in 
the hold of the ship. 
As an example of the effects of alteration p of temperature in a 
hermetically sealed case, may be cited the fact than many years ago I 
commenced sending home dried plants for herbarium specimens in a 
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