15 



and carefully counted. The following table gives the results in the 

 percentage of smutted heads of oats in the average of the two tests in 

 1904, and also of the six tests in the three years during which this ex- 

 periment has been conducted : 



The results here presented are certainly worthy of careful consid- 

 eration. It will be seen that in 1904 untreated seed had about 12 per 



cent, of smutted heads in the resulting crop. In the average results 

 for the three years, there was a loss of seven per cent, caused by the 

 injury by smut from the untreated seed. In comparison with this, we 

 have the excellent results from the treatments with formalin and hot 

 water. In the treatment with the stronger solution of formalin, how- 

 ever, which was sprinkled on the grain, the yield of oats per acre was 

 less in 1904 in the case of each variety, as compared with other treat- 

 ments. Taking everything into consideration, the immersion of the 

 oats for twenty minutes in diluted formalin, made by using one-half 

 pint of formalin with 21 gallons of water, has given excellent results 

 The treatment is easily performed, comparatively cheap, and very ef- 

 fectual. 



Influence on the Nurse Crop from Seeding Down with Tim- 

 othy AND Clover. In 1904 an experiment was conducted for the first 

 time, with the object of ascertaining whether any direct advantage or 

 disadvantage would result to a grain crop by sowing seed of Red Clover, 

 Alsike Clover, and Timothy at the time of sowing the grain. No less 

 than thirty-two plots were used for this experiment. The Siberian and 

 the Joanette varieties of oats were each used on one-half the plots. 

 Eight plots were seeded with Common Red Clover, eight with Alsike 

 Clover, eight with Timothy, and eight plots were left without either 

 grass or clover seed. The oats, Timothy seed, and clover seed germin- 

 ated splendidly and the crops were very satisfactory in every case. In 

 averaging the results, it is found that there is exactly 1.14 per cent. 

 more oats where no grass or clover were sown than where the Timothy 

 Alsike, and Red Clover were grown with the oats. It will therefore 



