184 
In the first place, in order to test the action of hydrogen peroxide 
on the vitality of seeds, two batches of seed of each kind experi- 
‘mented on were soaked in hydrogen peroxide for 4 hours and 
24 hours respectively, and a control batch, of each kind of seed, was 
soaked in water for a corresponding length of time. All the 
soaking was done in closed glass dishes 
n every instance seed treated with hydrogen peroxide was 
retarded in germination, as compared with seed soaked in water for 
a corresponding length of time. The germination of the seed 
soaked in hydrogen peroxide for 24 hours was much more retarded 
than of that soaked for 4 hours. 
On the other hand, seedlings from treated seed grew at a quicker 
rate than those from untreated seed, and as a rule, within a fort- 
night were equal in size or even larger than the plants raised from 
the untreated seed. Certain kinds of seed were killed after being 
treated for 24 hours. In every instance, except where the treated 
seed was killed outright, the percentage of germination was equa 
in treated and untreated seed, and, as a rule, every seed germinated. 
Fuller details are given in the-accompanying table. 
ches of a few different kinds of fungus spores treated for 
half an hour only, showed accelerated germination as compared 
with spores soaked in water for the same length of time. 
The seed should be treated in clased vessels, bottles, &c., which 
should be shaken at intervals, otherwise a layer of air bubbles tends 
to surround the seed and. so prevent the action of the fungicide. 
This method of sterilising seed should prove of value, in addition 
to home use, in those instances when sterilisation of seed is insisted 
upon in other countries and should supersede sterilisation of seed by 
fumigation, which, although it may be effective against insect 
pests, is comparatively useless so far as the spores of fungi are 
concerned.. In the event of using this method for sterilising seed, 
it would be best in the first case to experiment on a small quantity 
of seed in order to test the effect of the hydrogen peroxide on the 
vitality of the seed before treating a large consignment. 
_It is doubtful whether hydrogen peroxide would prove of value in 
killing hibernating mycelium which might be present in bulbs, tubers, 
oa y one experiment in this direction has been made, wit 
the mycelium of the Botrytis causing the well-known “ Lily disease,” 
resent in the stem of a lily. Two pieces of lily stem were treated 
for 24 houts, and afterwards the fungus grew freely and produced 
ay while {gor oe piece _ the same stem, soaked in tee 
‘or an equal le of time, the mycelium grew very slowly as 
compared with ahs treated adebi: Jo ovat Stetiage a0 Ae 
