from the large plump seed required only 1390 grains to weigh an ounce ; 

 while the crop produced from the light seed required 2095 grains to 

 make the same weight. 



Treatment for Smut in Oats. Two varieties of oats were select- 

 ed in the spring of 1902, 1903, and again in 1904, and uniform samples 

 of each variety were submitted to several treatments, with the object 

 of killing the spores of smut adhering to the grain. The various treat- 

 ments were as follows : 



(i). Immersion in Diluted Formalin. The solution of formalin used 

 for the immersion process was made by pouring one-half pint of the 

 formalin into 21 gallons of water, and the seed oats were immersed 

 in the solution for twenty minutes. 



(2). Sprinkling with Diluted Formalin. One-half pint of formalin 

 was poured into 5 gallons of water. The oats were then sprinkled with 

 this solution and carefully stirred until the grain was thoroughly 

 moistened. 



(3). Immersion in Hot Water. For this treatment, the grain was 

 placed in a bag, which was then immersed in water at about 115 de- 

 grees F. Soon afterwards it was placed in water which was kept at a 

 temperature of between 130 degrees and 135 degrees F. The grain 

 was occasionally stirred, and was allowed to remain in the water for 

 a period of fifteen minutes. It was then spread out on a clean floor to 

 dry, where it was stirred occasionally. 



(4). Immersion in Bluestone Solution for Twelve Hours. In this 

 treatment, the bluestone solution was made by dissolving one pound 

 of bluestone in 25 gallons of water, and the oats were immersed in this 

 solution for a period of twelve hours. 



(5). Immersion in Bluestone Solution for Five Minutes. For this 

 treatment, a strong solution was made by dissolving one pound of 

 Copper Sulphate (Bluestone) in one gallon of water, and then immersing 

 the oats in the solution for a period of five minutes. 



(6). Immersion in Potassium Sulphide Solution. The potassium 

 sulphide treatment consisted in soaking the seed for two hours in a 

 solution made by dissolving eight pounds of potassium sulphide in 50 

 gallons of water. 



(7). Sprinkling with Bluestone Solution. This solution was made 

 by dissolving one pound of bluestone In 10 gallons of water, which was 

 used for sprinkling over the oats until they were thoroughly moistened 

 after being carefully stirred. 



(8). Untreated. One sample of oats of each variety was left un- 

 treated in order that the influence of the various treatments might be 

 observed. 



It will be seen that eight lots of each variety of oats were used in 

 the experiment each year. After the treatments had been completed 

 a few hours the oats were carefully sown on separate plots, each of 

 which was exactly one rod square. When the oats were coming into 

 head, they were examined frequently and all smutted heads removed 



