Norman Deno's seed germination studies have been much perused by the rock gardening community for many years. Some of the findings are valuable, but many of us have found that the procedures recommended there are not absolutely necessary to obtain a good rate of germination for some of the species covered. It is well to know that Deno didn't grow on many of the germinated seeds, just counted and discarded them. It would have been difficult in any case to transfer some of the species from the paper towels on which they were germinated to a growth medium. One notable exception to the reported findings is that when Deno describes a species as having seed that does not remain viable in dry storage, it is still possible to obtain some germination from such stored seed. The percentage will be low, but if the plants are very desirable, it's still worth trying. Even being able to raise one Adonis from much-mistreated exchange seed is valuable, and I obtained three species of it that way. Jane McGary Portland, Oregon, USA