Germination and by Electrical Response . 189 
%. The electrical response of grains germinated under different con- 
ditions, such as food supply, temperature, &c., varies in the same way as the 
germination value. 
3. Samples of grain giving good and bad germination values give 
average electrical responses which vary strikingly in the same way. 
4. There is a certain amount of evidence that there is a time of 
maximum electrical response, probably corresponding with the time when 
growth becomes established. Experiments are being carried out to deter- 
mine this point with more precision. 
5. In the samples giving a low germination value there are always 
a certain number of embryos which give no response to the electrical 
stimulus, indicating they are incapable of germination. A high proportion 
of such zero results under conditions which would normally produce 
a response would indicate a sample of low germinative value. 
6. The electrical response can be ascertained in a much shorter time 
than the total germinative value. 
7. There is an indication that the electrical response would discriminate 
not only between a ‘ live ’ seed and a ‘ dead ’ seed, but between a ‘ live ’ seed 
of high vitality and one of low vitality. 
I take this opportunity of expressing thanks to the Board of Agriculture, 
with whose assistance this work has been carried out. 
