Oct 1, 1924 
Vitality of Buried Seeds 
357 
Table I.— Complete list of seeds buried, with germination obtained each time the 
seeds were taken up —Continued 
Labo¬ 
ra¬ 
tory 
No. 
Buri¬ 
Num¬ 
Percentage of germiation in— 
al 
Name of plant 
ber of 
Depth 
No. 
seeds 
1903 
1905 
1908 
1912 
1918 
1923 
ASTERACEAE (ASTER FAMILY) 
16275 
112 
Arctium lappa L. (burdock, 
200 
A 
42.5 
31.5 
12 
53 
10.5 
0 
clotbur). 
200 
B 
63.5 
57.5 
16.5 
73.5 
33.5 
29 
200 
C 
73 
54 
25.5 
93 
67 
17 
16276 
64 
Bidens frondosa L. (black beg- 
200 
A 
14.5 
0 
53. 
40 
0.5 
0 
gar ticks). 
200 
B 
16.5 
0 
38 
63.5 
0 
0 
200 
C 
18 
0 
60.5 
64.5 
0 
0 
16277 
111 
Carduus arvensis L. (Canada 
200 
A 
21 
35 
14.5 
5.5 
3 
0.5 
thistle). 
200 
B 
22.5 
28.5 
15.5 
9.5 
0.5 
0.5 
200 
C 
28.5 
38.5 
25.5 
21 
3 
4.5 
16278 
110 
Chrysanthemum leucanthemum 
200 
A 
21 
78.5 
47 
78 
37.5 
42.5 
L. (whiteweed, oxeye daisy). 
200 
B 
33 
79 
61.5 
57 
36.5 
48 
200 
C 
49.5 
76 
81.5 
82 
20 
39 
16279 
108 
Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh) Du- 
200 
A 
30.5 
22 
6.5 
3.5 
0 
0 
nal.(broad-leaved gum plant). 
200 
B 
36 
10.5 
1.5 
0 
0 
0 
200 
C 
42 
11.0 
5 
13.5 
0 
0 
16280 
,-29 
Helianthus annuus L. (common 
200 
A 
43.5 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
sunflower, wild). 
200 
B 
64 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
200 
C 
66.5 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
16281 
7 
Helianthus annuus L. (common 
200 
A 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
sunflower, cultivated). 
200 
B 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
200 
C 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
16282 
65 
Onopordon acanthium L. (cotton 
200 
A 
86 
0 
82 
39.5 
36.5 
37 
thistle, Scotch thistle). 
200 
B 
93 
0 
90.5 
71.5 
41.5 
4 
200 
c 
90.5 
0 
87 
61.5 
31.5 
7.5 
16283 
109 
Rudbeckia hirta L. (black-eyed 
200 
A 
6.5 
35.5 
1.5 
52.5 
20 
30.5 
Susan). 
200 
B 
6.5 
41 
2 
57.5 
48.5 
56.5 
200 
C 
7 
58.5 
2.5 
66 
10 
52 
PINACEA (PINE FAMILY) 
16284 
30 
Pinus virginiana Mill, (scrub 
100 
A 
0 
0 
0 
1 
0 
0 
pine, Jersey pine). 
100 
B 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
100 
C 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
In 1912, two sets were taken up 
from each depth. One set was tested 
in the greenhouse and one in the labora¬ 
tory germinating chambers. The higher 
germination in each case is included in 
Table I. Each time except in 1923 the 
seeds were taken up for test in the fall, 
usually just before the ground froze. 
In 1923, however, they were taken up 
in the early spring. At the close of the 
last test (1923) the soil in which the 
leguminous seeds were planted was 
examined for the presence of hard seeds. 
Red clover, white clover, black locust, 
and bush clover were found to have 
hard seeds remaining. Some of the 
hard seeds of each kind were clipped 
by scratching with emery paper. All 
so treated sprouted readily when sub¬ 
jected to conditions favorable for 
germination (PI. 1). 
Polygonum scandens produced sprouts 
for the first time in 1918. Both the 
hulled and unhulled seed of Sporobolus 
cryptandrus gave their highest germina¬ 
tion in 1923. Cuscuta polygonorum 
was allowed to grow for identification 
and it became so tangled that an 
accurate count was impossible. The 
test of timothy was interrupted in both 
1903 and 1905, which accounts for no 
sprouts being reported for the first 
two tests, although this seed grew in 
each of the later tests. In the case of 
Xanthium pennsylvanicum there were 
no sprouts in 1923, and an examination 
of the soil in the pots at the time of 
planting showed only one whole seed 
from the three depths, the remaining 
seeds being completely disintegrated. 
Rdbinia pseudacacia produced no 
sprouts in the flats in 1923. Examina- 
