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Journal of Agricultural Research voi. xxm. No. 5 
germination in the chamber tests. With all except the cucurbits (musk- 
melon, squash, and watermelon) the average daily minimum was from 2 0 
to 6° C. cooler in the soil than in the chambers. The average daily 
maximum was approximately the same in the soil as in the chamber in 
case of bean, beet, and pea seeds; 3 0 cooler in case of onion seeds; and 
3.5° warmer in case of parsley and tomato seeds. 
With the seeds of the cucurbits the average daily minimum tempera¬ 
ture of the soil when seedlings appeared most promptly was the same as 
or warmer than that occurring in the chamber tests, and the average 
daily maximum was 7 0 or 8° C. warmer than the maximum in the chamber 
test giving most rapid germination, although the mean temperature of 
this alternation was warmer than that of any other. 
