136 



is clear that the germinating power of the see^, as distributed, is very 

 high. I have, &c., 



L. Lewton -Brain, ^lycologist. 

 Sir D. Morris, K CM. a., 



Imperial Ooraraissioner of Agr'culture 

 for the West Indies. 



IV. 

 Protective Treatment of Cotton Seed in Jamaica. 

 By H. H. Cousins, M.A , F.C.8., Isl.nd Chemist. 

 I attach a summary of Experiments carried out as directed by the 

 Board of Agriculture. 



1. They show that soaking the seed in Copper or Mercurial Solu- 

 tions for 24 hours is injurious to germination. 



2. Treatment for 3 to 6 hours causes a reduction of 8 to 10 percent. 

 in germination. 



3. Neither Copper Sulphate at a strength of ^, | or 1 per cent, or 

 Corrosive at 1 per 1000 prevented the appearance of the disease on the 

 seedlings. In fact the untreated lot had only 1 per cent, of diseased 

 seedlings against 6 per cent, in the treated lots. Coltttotrichum was 

 identified on the seedlings. 



4. Conclusion. It is of great importance to get seel from healthy 

 stock, since the disease is clearly a difficult one to treat 



Fungicides for Cotton Seed. 



Experiments on Sea Islan 1 Cotton Seed, imported by the Board of 

 Agriculture, treated with Copper Sulphate solutions and Corrosive 

 Sublimate (1 in a 1,000 parts of water). 



Five plants of each lot were planted out for further observatiDu 



Treatment by Mr. Wortley. Seeds grown by Mr. T. J. Harris, at Hope. 



