147 



From the figures in this table it will be seen that the etfect of this method of 

 treatment with sulphate of iron was a reduction of 11 per cent, in the vitality of 

 the seed, while the solution of "agricultural blue stone" diminished the vitality 

 by 33"5 per cent. It may fairly be concluded from these results that the sulphate 

 of copper present in the " blue stone " acted more injuriously than did the sulj^hale 

 of iron. The following experiment was then made, in order to arrire at the action 

 of the sulphate of copper per se upon the grain. The mode of treatment was the same 

 as in the previous experiment (submergence for 36 hours, etc.), and the strength of the 

 solution in the proportion of 1 lb. of the material to 8 gallons of water, as before. 

 The seed treated with sulphate of iron and "agricultural blue stone" was pait of 

 the quantity tested on 15th March, and consequently had been dry after treatment 

 13 days. 



Red Fife, 200 Grains. 



Sown 28th March. 



Treated with Suphate of Iron 

 Treated witli " Agricnltural 



Blue Stone 



Treated with Sulphate of 



Copper 



Percentage 



of 



Vitality. 



96-5 

 55-5 

 400 



It is thus apparent that the sulphate of copper in the " agricultural blue stone" 

 during the 13 days had had the etfect of still further lowering the jDerceutage of 

 vital seeds ; while the sulphate of iron had not impaired the vitality of the wheat. 

 The seed treated with sulphate of copper gave but 40 per cent, of growing plants. 

 We may thus conclude that while sulphate of iron had but little action on the vitality 

 of the wheat germ, sulphate of copper by the same treatment has a most deleterious 

 effect. 



As the method of treatment received in the foregoing experiments may be con- 

 sidered an exti-eme one, I determined to ascertain what the eiiect on the wheat germ 

 would be by simply spi'inkling the seed with solutions, allowing them to dry, and 

 sowing at once. The ibl lowing table shows the results obtained by this means, the 

 solution being of the same strength as before : — 



Red Fife, 200 Grains. 



Sown 28th March. 



Treated with sulphate of iron 



do "agricultural blue stone 

 do Sulphate of copjjer 



Percentage 



of 

 Vitality. 



99-0 

 79.5 

 72-5 



A marked ditference, due to the mode of treatment, is at once seen. The seed 

 thus sulijected to sulphate of iron had its vitality uninjured ; that with the " agricul- 

 tural blue stone " lost 19*5 per cent, of its vitality, while that with sulphate of copper 

 was destroyed to the extent of 26'5 per cent. 



Throuii'hout these experiments it was noticed that the seed treated with the 

 different solutions had the growth of their plants retarded and weak as compared 

 with those of the untreated gi-ain, and this was much more mtirked in the case of 

 seeds subjected to solutions of coppei- sulphate and " agricultur.il blue stone " than 

 when sulpluxte of iron was used. As -oon as roots had begun to .'iosorl) nourishment 

 from the soil this lack of luxuriousness of growth was less noticeable. 



The following conclusions from these experiments may, I think, be safely 

 drawn : — 



6c— 10^ 



