2. To get for chemical studies material of the several plant color types with as uniform a genetic background as possible, I have tested the germination of seed samples stored in my cases for seven years. A brown plant, a₁ B Pl, was crossed with a dilute sun red, A₁ b pl, inbred strain, and a brown from F₂ of this cross was backcrossed to the same inbred strain. Ears of the several color types of F₂ of this backcross were tested. Four ears of purple, A₁ B Pl, averaged 4% germination, while 14 ears including some of each of the other color types, namely, sun red, dilute purple, dilute sun red, brown and green, averaged 95% germination. The observed difference between purple and the other color types is interesting, but probably without significance.

The seedlings of all color types, however, gave striking evidence of the effect of age. Normally the primary roots of germinating seeds show before the plumules do and grow more rapidly for some time. In most lots of this old seed the plumules showed before the primary roots did, and in one lot that germinated 100% no primary roots were visible at any time, but secondary roots started after the plumule was one-half inch or more long. Moreover, many seedlings died after being potted in good soil. Of seedlings from lots ripened last summer, tho germinated two weeks later, and planted in the same soil, none have died and the lot as a whole is now (a month after planting) two or three times the size of those from old seed. This is so similar to Randolph's results in germinating seed and growing seedlings from kernels subjected to high temperatures while dormant as to make the problem seem worth further study.