280 



The uuusiially low temperature at wliicli the vialiilitj- of the spores 

 were impaired seems all the more remarkable when we take into account 

 the fact that a treatment of the seed wheat for ten minutes at a tem- 

 perature of 130 degrees F. is not effective iu removing all the smut from 

 the ensuing crop. The results obtained from both the formalin and hot 

 water treatments would seem to indicate that the spores are easily killed, 

 in weak solutions of formalin and in comparatively low temperatures of 

 water, when brought in direct contact with these agencies. 



The lack of success in treating the seed for smut seems to be due to 

 the inal)ility of the agency used to reach all the smut spores. This is 

 probal)ly due to the fact that the seed coat is somewhat impervious to 

 liquid solutions: hence, all spores that are held in the interstices of the 

 seed coat are reached with ditticulty. if at all. Assuming this explana- 

 tion to be correct, it would appear that a different treatment sliould be 

 accorded wheat than that advocated for oats. Some preliminary treat- 

 ment should l)e given with the object of softening the seed coat, to such 

 an extent as to permit of the ready action of whatever disinfecting agency 

 it is desired to employ. With this idea in view a series of experiments 

 were undertaken in which the seed, intended for treatment either with 

 formalin or hot water, was given a preliminary soaking in water at about 

 70 degrees F. Tlie length of time in Avhicli the seed was allowed to soak 

 in water varied somewhat inversely to the time in which it was to be 

 treated in formalin and hot water. For example, in the formalin treat- 

 ments in wliich four lots of seed were treated, the first lot was soaked 

 a half iiour in the water and two hours in the formalin solution, whereas 

 the fourth lot was soaked three hours in the water ami only a quarter- 

 hour in the formalin solution. In the hot water treatment, somewhat the 

 same metliod was followed, except that a sliorter period of treatment was 

 given. 



Germination tests were made of the treated seed in a (Geneva germi- 

 uator. The treatment of the seeds and the data obtained from the germi- 

 nator tests which are presented in Tables IV and V. show that the forma- 

 lin treatments injiired the viability of the seeds somewhat more than 

 that of the hot water. In neither case, however, was the seed appreciably 

 injured. 



