1026 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



(Glauber's salt), sulphate of magnesia (Epsom salt), and in sugar sirups of tbo same 

 strengths as the salt solutions used. Each of the salts used and the sugar were 

 applied to the seeds in strengths of 0.1 per cent, 0.4 per cent, 0.7 percent, 1, 2,3,4,5, 

 7, and 9 per cent solutions. The sugar was used to throw light upon a technical 

 point. - ' 



From the results of these experiments the following table, showing the 

 amount of salts which may be present without retarding the germina- 

 tion of wheat and rye seeds, bas been prepared: 



Amounts of different suits which may be present without retarding germination of wheat 



and rye. 



" Thesalts arc injurious iu the order they are given inthistable. The black alkali 

 (sodium carbonate) is much more injurious than the other salts, because it has a 

 corroding effect due to the fact that it is not a neutral salt, and free acid is present 

 to produce a share of the damage. Of the salts composing the common white alkali 

 magnesium sulphate seems to be the least injurious, while common salt (sodium 

 chlorid) is most injurious. . . . 



"It has been found that fewer seeds will live, and it takes longer for them to ger- 

 minate as the strength of the solution increases, and there is a marked difference 

 between the different salts. . . . 



"Eighty-eight percent of the seeds of wheat germinated in water. In 3 per cent 

 solutions of the salts, amounting to nearly 0.75 per cent of salt in the soil, the follow- 

 ing percentage of the wheat was germitfated : Magnesium sulphate 86 per cent, 

 sodium sulphate 70 per cent, sodium chlorid 35 per ceut, and sodium carbonate 14 

 per cent. Ninety-sis per cent of the rye germinated in water. In 3 per cent solu- 

 tions of the salts the following percentage of rye germinated: Magnesium sulphate 

 92 per cent, sodium sulphate 56 per ceut, sodium chlorid 38 per cent, and sodium 

 carbonate 22 per cent. This would indicate that rye will stand stronger alkali than 

 will wheat, which corresponds with results of previous tests. . . . 



" In these experiments it has been a most notable fact that small amounts of alkali 

 salts were beneficial or at least that they accelerated instead of retarded germina- 

 tion. No doubt small amounts present in the soil also assist iu the life of the plant, 

 either stimulating its growth or acting directly as plant food." 



An extensive series of pot experiments with alkali were made. 

 While these experiments were not conclusive as to the effect of alkali 

 on plant growth, they gave interesting data regarding the evaporation 

 of water from soils containing different amounts of soluble salts. 

 " From the pots containing no alkali 17.7 cc. was evaporated each day, 

 while the amount of water lost from those pots containing 9 per cent 

 solutions (equivalent to 2.2 per cent alkali in soil with 24.5 per cent 

 moisture) was approximately one half as much." 



Plants which have shown alkali-resisting properties are briefly dis- 

 cussed. Those noted include saltbushes, English rape, Bokhara clover, 

 and sugar beets. 



The alkali of the Yellowstone Valley, M. Whitney and T. H. 

 Means (U. 8. Dept. Agr., Division of Boils Bui. 14, pp. 39, pis. 17, figs. 

 3). — This is an account of a preliminary study of the rise of alkali iu 



