n based upon
studies with other pollens is that germination tests are a reliable
indication of the effectiveness of pollen in fertilization.

Storage and Germination of Nuts of Several Species of Juglans

W. C. MUENSCHER AND BABETTE I. BROWN

_Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y._

While working on the general problem of the possible toxic effect of the
roots of species of Walnut (_Juglans_) upon other plants we have had
occasion to germinate the nuts to produce seedlings for experimental
use.[1] The storage treatment employed previous to planting the nuts
provided a successful method of supplying viable nuts. The simple
treatment used, a modification of that suggested by Barton,(2) is
briefly described and the results that may be obtained are indicated in
a report of some germination data from the plantings of 1943.

The nuts were harvested after they had fallen from the trees and were
stored in a cool place as soon as possible thereafter until the time
when the husks were removed. Those harvested at Ithaca were put in cold
storage at once; those harvested in California or Texas were delayed a
few weeks during shipment. The husked nuts were stratified between
layers of moist peat 2 cm. thick in two-or five-gallon crocks. The
uppermost layer of nuts was covered with peat to a depth of about 10 cm.
The nuts were placed in a cold room at 1 to 3 deg. C. in late autumn and
left until they were planted, between April 15 and June 2. Nearly all
species used germinated well after about five to six months of cold
storage.

Table 1 shows the results obtained from treated nuts of ten species of
_Juglans_ when they were planted in the open field, in soil in the
greenhouse or in moist sphagnum in the greenhouse. While some variation
in germination is observed, most of the species gave a good germination
under all treatments. The field planted seeds were somewhat slower in
appearing above the soil surface than those planted in the greenhouse.
This delay may have been caused by the cold rainy weather soon after
planting. The firmness of the soil, a clay loam, may also have retarded
the emergence of the seedlings.

The germination percentages are based upon lots of 100 nuts except in a
few species in which only 50 nuts were used. Differences in the
percentage of germination obtained from various plantings of the same
species are slight in most species. Even the larger differences in
germination obtained in a few species can