16 Journal of the Mitchell Society [September 



mass of various forms and sizes. The fungus attacks the pine tissue, 

 completely destroys the mass of enclosed rootlets, and remains lightly 

 attached to the root. Many irregular cavities lined with basidia and 

 spores are formed. The interior becomes a dark jelly mass, and the 

 tougher coat later also breaks down. 



Effect of Fertilizers on Germination and Seedling Growth of Conn 

 and Cotton. M. E. Sherwin. 



This paper shows the effect of fertilizers on time required for 

 germination and on rate of seedling growth of corn and cotton grown 

 in galvanized pans 3i/^ inches each way. These results are in part 

 in confirmation of field observations. 



Heavy applications of soluble mineral fertilizers cause the greater 

 delay in germination. Organic fertilizers cause the greater injury to 

 the seedlings. Where germination seems to be poor as determined by 

 the per cent of seeds which have "come up" the trouble will usually 

 be found to be due to root injury where organic fertilizers are used 

 and to inability of the seed to absorb sufficient water where mineral 

 fertilizers are used. 



To obviate the difficulty in germination and the root injur.y from 

 organic fertilizers no fungicidal treatment has availed. Injury is less 

 severe when the fertilizer is well mixed with the soil but to wholly 

 obviate these troubles the fertilizer should be applied to the soil a week 

 in advance of planting the seed. The injury appears to be much less 

 in soil containing abundance of acid organic matter than in ordinary 

 sand clay soils. The injury appears worse at high temperatures than 

 at low temperatures. 



The viability of the seed does not seem to have been impaired by 

 contact with the soil solution containing sufficient nitrate of soda to 

 prevent germination in two weeks' time. 



Increasing the quantity of nitrate of soda has the same effect on 

 rate of germination as decreasing the amount of soil moisture. 



Borax, either alone or in trona-potash, is decidedly harmful to 

 germination. Very small amounts of borax cause almost complete 

 chlorosis of corn seedlings. 



