Germination of Helianthus annuus. 699 
value of the iodine number of the oil decreased from 113-5 to 105. The 
acid value of the oil increased from less than 1 % to 56 %. A considerable 
part of the acid was volatile. The cellulose and sugar content during the 
progress of germination each showed an increase of nearly 10 %. 
Von Fiirth ( 28 ) (1904) examined the oil of Helianthus annuus and 
Ricinus communis before germination, and after the radicle of the seedlings 
had attained a length of 4 to 5 cm. He found that the acetyl value of the 
oil of Helianthus during the period decreased from 87-5 to 50-5, while there 
was little change in the iodine number. The mean molecular weight of the 
fatty acid during the period did not change materially. From these results, 
Fiirth concluded that the normal fatty acid does not change into oxy-fatty 
acid, and that there is no ground for assuming that the unsaturated acid 
becomes saturated during germination. Since the mean molecular weight 
of the acid does not change, there is no proof that the fatty acids are broken 
down into the lower carbon groups. Fiirth was unable to detect the 
vegetable acid mentioned by Green in his experiments with Ricinus 
communis. 
In 1905 Green ( 29 ) continued his investigation of the germination of 
Ricinus. He found that the amount of lecithin decreased in the early 
stages of the seedlings, but subsequently a gradual increase of this compound 
took place. He thought it probable that the oily reserve furnished glycerine 
and acid groups for this compound. He identified the non-reducing sugar 
present as saccharose, and the reducing sugar as invert sugar. He con¬ 
cluded that his previous opinion that the sugar present during germination 
is derived from glycerine is erroneous. The organic acid was again investi¬ 
gated, but its identity was not established. He considers that it is derived 
from the oil by oxidation, but that it has no connexion either directly 
or indirectly with the formation of carbohydrate. 
Experimental Investigations. 
CULTURE METHODS. 
The sunflower seeds used in this work were of the variety known as the 
‘ Large Russian and were purchased from a local seedsman in the spring of 
1909. The quantity of seeds purchased at that time was sufficient in amount 
to furnish all the material needed in this investigation. 
The seedlings for these experiments were grown in white quartz sand. 
This sand was washed first with hot and then with cold water before being 
transferred to the boxes or pots in which the seedlings were grown. The 
seeds were planted in the sand at a depth of about one half-inch, and were 
watered with the ordinary city water. 1 The vessels containing the seeds 
1 The total amount of solids in the New Haven city water is very low, only 65-75 milligrams 
to the litre. 
