FORMALIN TREATMENT FOR OAT SMUT 



599 



tion. The solutions used were 3 ounces and 4 1 - ounces of for- 

 malin to 10 gallons of water. The oats were soaked for two 

 hours in the formalin solution, while in the bordeaux and cop- 

 per sulphate solutions the grain was steeped for four hoars. 



The result indicated that the formalin solutions were both 

 efficacious — no disease being found in the resulting crop from 

 the treated seed. 



R. S. Shaw after, three years' work at the Montana Station 

 in 1903 (48) recommends a formalin solution consisting of 

 one pint formalin to 40 gallons of water. Treat the grain either 

 by dipping or sprinkling. In either ease the grain should re- 

 main covered for two hours, after which it should be dried. 



Shutt (49) in his report of 1906 remarks that the use of for- 

 malin for treating smut in cereals is increasing rapidly, due 

 to its ease of application and effectiveness. Two strengths then 

 in use were three and four ounces of formalin to 10 gallons of 

 water. The grain was immersed for five minutes or sprinkled. 

 In the majority of cases the weaker solution has proven as ef- 

 fective, and thorough sprinkling equal to immersion. 



Stevens (52) in 1906 and 1907 conducted some extensive ex- 

 periments to determine the influence of various formalin solu- 

 tions on the germination of oats, especially when covered for 

 different periods of time. Other experimenters have suggesl 

 strong solutions of formalin, but the effect on the vitality of 

 the grain was often quite marked. The following table g 

 the results of the first series of experiments in which solutions 

 of one ounce of formalin were used with one-half, one, two and 

 three gallons of water. 



EFFECT OF FORMALIN UPON GERMINATION. 

 Table V. Solution of Different Concentrations. 



Strength, Amt. 

 Solution, Amt. 



formalin 

 of water 



1 oz. 

 -\-j gal. 



1 oz. 

 1 gal. 



1 oz. 



2 gal. 



1 oz. 

 3 gal. 



Covered 12 hrs. after treat- 

 ment then seeded imme- 

 diately 



Seeded immediately after 

 treating 



Dried 48 hours before seed- 

 ing 



Covered 12 hours, dried 

 with lime before seed- 

 ing 



Average 



Per cent 



25 



47 



43 



Per cent 



95 



99 



96 



94 



96 



Per cent 



97 



SS 



9S 



94 

 94 



Per cent 



93 



89 



94 



96 

 93 



