Action of Chemicals on Potato-T'Lihevs. 271 



At the outset it is desirable to state that the original objec- 

 tive sought in this inquiry, namely, the evolution and applica- 

 tion of a method of treatment which, while effectively annihilat- 

 ing the sprouting power of the treated tuber, and, in the case 

 of blight-infected material, also that of the causal fungus 

 {Phytophthora in/estaris, De Bary), yet would not greatly impair 

 its storage, culinary and edible qualities, has to some extent under- 

 gone deviation. 



The present brief paper is merely a resume of certain experi- 

 mental work performed, and the results which it has so far 

 furnished. While the work recorded lacks that completeness in 

 certain directions which must naturally accrue from a more 

 detailed investigation, it has nevertheless been deemed advis- 

 able to record such definite stages as the inquiry has so far 

 reached. 



Briefly set out, the principal objects of the inquiry have been 

 to ascertain the influence exercised under definite conditions of 

 time, temperature and concentration, by certain antiseptic 

 compounds of definite chemical composition, in aqueous solution, 

 on blight-free or blight-infected tubers, particularly in regard 

 to the annihilation of the buds, of the treated tuber, and in 

 the case of blight-infected material, of the hibernating mycelium 

 of the blight-causing fungus (Phytophthora in/estans). 



Material and Experimental Method. 



Certain distinct types of Victorian tubers, specifically denoted 

 in the text as thick or thin-skinned, and varying in their degree 

 of maturity, served as experimental material. The earlier series 

 of experiments refer exclusively to blight-free tubers, which 

 were steeped in brine solutions of varying strengths. Following 

 on these are experiments with similar blight-free material, 

 steeped in aqueous sulphuric and boracic acid solutions. Suc- 

 ceeding these are the experimental results furnished by steeping 

 material in other antiseptic steep solutions, and lastly are ex- 

 perimental results aflorded by the treatment of blight-infected 

 material in like solutions. 



The method of experiment adopted has been to steep a 

 definite number of tubers at the temperature of the laboratory 

 (16° - 18° C) in aqueous solution of the ditlerent chemical 



