252 Experiments on Sprouting Potatoes in Gas Mixtures. 
The Influence of Oxygen on the Sprouting of Potatoes 
(King Edward). Second Experiment. 
Fresh weight of sprouts 
Growth 
in grams. 
interval 
Date. 
in days. 
5% Ox. 
10% Ox. 
20% Ox. 
50% Ox. 
80% Ox. 
22/8/18. 
13. 
0-4. 
1-6. 
18. 
0-9. 
0 
[1-8.] 
[3-2.] 
[4-0.] 
[2-9.] 
11/9/18. 
19. 
4 0. 
2-2. 
3-3. 
0-8. 
Dead. 
[18-2.] 
[5-4.] 
[6-9.] 
■ [5-0.] 
Injured. 
Total. 
32. 
4-4. 
38. 
51. 
1-7. 
[10 0.] 
[4-3.] 
[5-4.] 
[4*0.j 
The figures in square brackets are weights (grams) per 100 sprouts. 
The Influence of Oxygen on the Sprouting of Potatoes 
(Factor) Extract from Table 2. 
Fresh weight of sprouts in grams 
in nine weeks. 
5% Ox. 
10% Ox. 
20% Ox. 
5-4. 
104. 
5-1. 
2-8. 
2-1. 
1-6. 
The fall off in natural sprouting capacity of Potatoes 
from June to January. 
Weeks. 
Sprouts per week per 
5 potatoes (Factor) 
T C 0 to 2. 
June J 9 . 
“y { lit: 
Aug. 9 „ 12. 
Sept. 12 „ 33. 
— Jan. 
2-2 grams. 
5-4 „ 
2-9 „ 
2*2 
1*4 „ 
0-34 
Conclusions. 
1. Oxygen is harmful to the potato tuber in concentrations 
above 5-10%. Oxygen 80% kills in 4 to 5 weeks. Oxygen 5-10% is the 
optimal concentration for sprouting. 
2. The harmful action of Oxygen is increased in the presence 
of Carbon Dioxide. 
3. Carbon Dioxide inhibits sprouting in a concentration of 
20%. This concentration is at the same time to some extent 
harmful. 
4. Higher concentrations of Carbon Dioxide cause marked 
injury and death. 
28th April , 1919. 
The Botany School, Cambridge. 
