146 



"A heavy dresf^ing of wood ashes (which may be procured in many parts of 

 Canada at a very low price), or of kainit or other form of potash, ie, therefore, to be 

 recommended for oichardR. 



" The value of the leaves composted — a process to be advised as more economical 

 than burning — is also well established by the data afforded by this work." 



EEPOET ON THE EFFECT OF SOLUTIONS OF COPPER SULPHATE 



(BLUE VITEIOL), lEON SULPHATE (GREEN VITRIOL), AND 



OF "AGRICULTURAL BLUE STONE," ON THE 



VITALITY OF SEED AVHEAT. 



A communication was received in March last from Messrs. Tees and Persse, of 

 Winnipeg, Man., accompanied by a sample of " agiicultural blue stone " — a sub- 

 stance now in the market for destroying the germs of smut. The following extract 

 is from their letter : — 



" As you are no doubt aware, it has long been the custom of farmers to soak 

 their seed grain in a solution of blue vitriol to destroy the 'smut' before sowing. 

 The sample sent you is cheaper than the regular bine vitriol, but it is claimed that 

 it is better for destroying smut; while some hold that the sulphate of iron in 

 sample sent you will destroy the germ in the wheat. As this is a matter of such 

 great importance to this country, we have taken the liberty of bringing it under 

 your notice, and would bo glad if you would give us your opinion upon the merits of 

 this new article at as early a date as possible." 



An analysis of this sample of " agricultural blue stone " gave the following 

 results : — 



• 



Sulphate of iron (green vitriol) 69-30 



do copper (blue vitriol) 30-70 



100-00 



A series of experiments was then inaugurated to ascertain the effect of solu- 

 tions of iron sulphate, copper sulphate and of the " agricultural blue stone " on the 

 vitality of the wheat germ. The sample of wheat selected to be experimented with 

 was Red Fife and yielded 97-5 per cent, of germinating seed. 



The first experiment consisted in soaking the gi'ain for 36 hours — the seed being 

 totally submerged — in (a) a solution of " agricultural blue stone," and (b) a solu- 

 tion of sulphate of iron. The strength of the solutions was 1 lb. of the material to 8 

 gallons of water. The seed, at the expiration of the 36 hours, was taken out of the 

 solutions and allowed to diy in the air at ordinary temperatures. It was then sown 

 in earth in the conservatory. 



The following table gives the number of plants from the grain on the dates 

 which appear at the head of the columns. Two hundred grains were sown in each 

 experiment. 



Red Fife ^Vheat. 



So\vn inth March. 



Untreated 



Treated with sulphate of iron 



Treated with " agricultural blue 

 stone 



Percentage 



of 



Vitality. 



97-5 

 8G-5 



G4 



