Abstract
1. In the same manner as m other cereals, germination of newly harvested rice seeds was promoted by removing the hull or by cutting the endosperm;. and after-ripening or the break-down of dorniancy was found to be more rapid under higher temperatures, though the moisture content of the seeds showed, unlike in other cereals, no important relation to after-ripening. 2. In some varieties, dor.mant seeds tended to germinate under relatively high temperatures; while in other varieties under relatively low temperatures. These two types of temperature response were found to be predominant in the Continental and Insular variety groups respectively. 3. A marked difference was found among varieties in the degree of dormancy in fresh seeds harvested 30-35 days after anthesis. Varleties sho wing strong dormancy tehded to be '1argler in number in the Insular group than in the Continental group. 4. When seeds of different varieties were stored under the same conditions, their life or the period of maintaining germinating capacity tended to be. longer in varieties of the Continental group thaxl in those of the Insular group.
