THE \1TA1JTY AND GERMINATION OF SEEDS.
INTRODUCTION.]t has long-Ijcen known tliat the conditions nndor which plants are grow n and the dog-ree of niaturit}' at the tinu^of harvesting are factors which play an important part in the life of seeds. But, granting that seeds are of strong vitality at the time of harvesting, there remain to ])e considered the methods of gathering and curing, the water content of the seed at the time of storing, the methods of storage, the humidity and temperatui'e of the surrounding atmosphere, the composition of the seed, the nature of the seed coats, activities within the cells, and munerous other factors which play important parts in the life of the seed.The conditions necessary for the successful germination of a seed of good \itality and the chemical transformations accompanying these carl}' stages of development have received considerable attention from numerous investigators. These changes and conditions are fairly well understood for many of our common seeds. However, several important facts still remain unexplainiHl, and our knowledge will not be complete until each and every species has Ijeen carefully studied.
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