5G2 EFFECT OF BED LEAD, ETC., ON GERMINATION. [Jan. 



easy to be understood that foresters have ever endeavoured to render 

 the raising of nursery plants as much as possible independent of 

 artificial production and watching. Quite recently J. Booth, after 

 testing, recommended the colouring of seeds with red lead (PI30O4) 

 as an almost infallible protection against birds and mice. Others 

 recommend carbolic acid, and there are others again who prescribe 

 the cheap protection of petroleum. 



In Forestry literature numerous notes are to be found on red lead 

 and its working as a protective means ; but as to its effects on the 

 seed itself and on the progress of germination, we have as yet only 

 scanty and scarcely trustworthy information. A similar reservation 

 has to be made in a still higher degree with the references to 

 carbolic acid and petroleum. Now, it is of the highest importance 

 to know, whether the sul)stance to be applied has an injurious 

 effect on the seed, or whether it leaves it quite unimpaired, before 

 we recommend it at all. We have, therefore, undertaken Ijy 

 numerous experiments to obtain the answer to this question, which 

 of itself and by itself ought to be a simple one. 



Before proceeding to present the results, it may be well to explain 

 in few words the preparation of the experiments. In tests of 

 germination it is always necessary to aim at the greatest possible 

 simplicity without diminishing the trustworthiness of the experi- 

 ments. We used in almost every case Nobbe's germinating 

 apjDaratuses, with which we happened to be provided. Some of them 

 by way of trial at the commencement of the experiments were filled 

 with fine earth, carefully levelled, and on this the seeds were sown. 

 The consequence of this method was an extraordinary success. The 

 seeds did not become so mouldy as on the clay, they found them- 

 selves in a germinating bed closely adapted to their nature, the 

 moisture was on the level surface more equal, and the method itself 

 cheap and simple. This method was adhered to for almost all the 

 experiments on germination. 



1. Ex;pcrimcnts with Red Lead. — The measures recommended by 

 J. Booth for colouring the seed with red lead have called forth in 

 recent years a long controversy. Booth himself invariably observed 

 a very good effect from the colouring. Oberfoerster Gruetter, of 

 Elbino'erode, in the Hartz district, applied this method to spruce fir 

 seeds with the best results. Gruetter observed that the finches took 

 some of the coloured seeds ; but soon thereafter they left the seed- 

 beds with signs of discomfort, and did not return. Finally, in the 

 <Tarden of the Neustadt Forest Academy extensive experime.nts were 

 carried out by von Alten on the effects of red lead, which were 

 accompanied by the most favourable results. There is now a com- 

 plete saving of the expense of watching, which amounted to between 



