538 Circular No. 6. 



were also exposed, and in this case mice dug up one or two seeds btit 

 these were not eaten, and the remainder was not further disturbed. 



{4) Corn freshly treated with either of the tar preparations could 

 not be employed in the corn planter without experiencing great dififi- 

 culty in uniformly dropping the seed. On the other hand, it is found 

 that when properly spread on the dry floor the treated corn will com- 

 pletely dry out in a few days so that it may be used without difficulty 

 in a planter. According to the experience of others a quart or two of 

 fine land plaster or sifted ashes may be mixed with the seed immediately 

 after the tar treatment, and the treated seed may in this way be used 

 immediately without serious inconvenience. In this case it would per- 

 haps be wise to use a minimum amount of tar. 



Since the above experiments were completed, there has appeared a 

 Bulletin from the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station, number 130, 

 on *' Experiments with Repellents Against the Corn Root-Aphis." As a 

 result of the more elaborate experiments of that Bulletin, it is shown 

 that treatment of seed with various odorous substances may also be 

 more or less efifective against the root-aphis. Of special interest in this 

 connection, however, is the fact that the use of tar water was found to 

 have no perceptible effect upon germination. On the other hand, seed 

 treated with turpentine showed marked irregularity, and the germination 

 capacity was frec[uently seriously affected. 



SUMMARY 



It is practicable to treat seed corn with a lic|uid coal tar. Under 

 ordinary circumstances, germination of the seed is not affected by the 

 treatment. It is the general experience that the treated seeds are dis- 

 tasteful to crows and to rodents. After treatment, the seed may be 

 dried so that there will be no interference with planting. If this is not 

 possible, dr^' ashes or land plaster may be mixed with the seed to prevent 

 sticking. 



