SOME STUDIES OF THE GERMINATION OF THE SEED OF ORYZA SATIVA. 155 
Even the embryonal halves of the desiccated hulled grains of Oryza are 
capable of germination after twenty-four hours steeping in commercial absolute 
ethyl alcohol, ethyl ether, the ethyl alcoholic (commercial absolute) solution 
of resorein, acetic acid, hydroquinone and naphthalene, but the air-dried entire 
hulled grains are killed by the similar treatments. 
Twenty-four hours steeping in the aqueous solution of phenol, resorcin, 
a-naphthol, hydroquinone, acetic acid and mercuric chloride is fatal to the 
desiccated and air-dried grains of Oryza (hulled) and Zea, whereas the cor- 
responding alcoholic (commercial absolute) or ether solutions are harmful 
only to a considerable extent. 
The hulled grain of Oryza can be germinated at an extreme low oxygen 
pressure, but under such condition the development of the radicle is totally 
prohibited. A supply of oxygen initiates the development of the radicle in 
the seedlings thus germinated. 
No appreciable stimulating influence of H and OH ions is observed in 
the germination of the Oryza grains. 
The germinative power of the grains of Oryza, Zea and the seeds of 
Fagopyrum is practically unaffected by a few hours’ exposure to an extreme 
low temperature by means of steeping them in liquid air. 
By two hours’ exposure to 97—98°C, the germinative power of the grains 
of Zea is lost, but that of the grains of Oryza, especially if desiccated, is 
only slightly affected. 
The writer wishes to thank most heartily Professors K, Miyake, IK. SHIBA- 
TA, and Y. SHIBATA for the facilities and criticisms given to him during various 
phases of the work. For the material, his sincere thanks are also due to 
Professor S. Kıkkawa and to Professor S. HASKELL. 
December 1915. 
