Influence of Temperature on Soaking of Seeds. 39 
At the lowest temperatures the figures for exosmosis are in both 
cases slightly higher than at the medium temperatures, but the 
differences are probably too small to he significant. At higher 
temperatures, however, the rate of exosmosis is greatly increased. 
We cannot at present offer any satisfactory explanation to 
account for the greater exosmosis at the lower temperatures and for 
the markedly more injurious effects observed in the later develop¬ 
ment of the plants produced from seeds soaked in excess of water at 
lower temperatures as compared with medium temperatures. 
Summary. 
The soaking of pea seeds (Pi sum sativum) and of bean seeds 
(Phaseolus vulgaris) in excess of water is injurious at all tempera¬ 
tures, that is, the number|and vigour of the plants produced are 
diminished. This injurious effect is more marked with low 
temperatures of soaking (5 u -10 n C) than with medium temperatures 
(15-20"C). At higher temperatures the amount of injury resulting 
again increases, so that the curve of the number of plants produced 
from seeds soaked at different temperatures rises and falls about an 
optimum in the region of 15°-20"C. 
LITERATURE CITED. 
1. Kidd, F. and West, C. Physiological Pre-determination : The Influence of 
the Physiological Condition of the Seed upon the 
Course of Subsequent Growth and upon the Yield. I. 
The Effects of Soaking Seeds in Water. Ann. Applied 
Biology, 5, 1918, p. 1. 
2. Heinrich, M. Der Einfluss der Luftfeuchtigkeit, der Warme und des 
Sauerstoffs der Luft auf lagerndes Saatgut. Landw. 
Versuchsstat., 81, 1913, pp. 289-376. 
3. Jodin, V. Recherches sur la Germination. Ann. Agronom.23, 1897, p. 433. 
4. Maz6, P. Recherches sur le Role de I’Oxygene dans la Germination. Ann. 
de 1’Inst. Pasteur, 14, No. 5, 1900, p. 350. 
5. Kidd, F. The Controlling Influence of Carbon Dioxide in the Maturation, 
Dormancy and Germination of Seeds. Part II. Proc. 
Roy. Soc. (Lond.), R, 87, 1914, p. 609. 
