76 ReEeporT OF THE BACTERIOLOGIST OF THE 
in the greenhouse. This was done September 28. On October 
10 the plants from each lot of seed were counted. The seed 
treated fifteen minutes gave an average germination of 388 per 
ct.; 30 minutes, 32.05 per ct.; one hour, 24.5 per ct.; two hours, 
14 per ct.; untreated, 34 per ct. The seedlings appeared equally 
vigorous in all lot's except those treated for two hours. It seems 
likely that the two-hour treatment was somewhat injurious, but 
the experiment must be repeated before a positive statement to 
that effect can be made. The 15-minute treatment appeared to do 
no harm. 
The strength of the formalin solution used in this experiment | 
was the same as that generally recommended for use in treating 
potatoes to prevent scab, namely, one pint or pound to thirty 
gallons of water. 
DIRECTIONS FOR SEED DISINFECTION. 
Cabbage and cauliflower seed may be disinfected either with 
corrosive sublimate or with formalin. 
If corrosive sublimate is used, the strength of the solution 
should be one part of corrosive sublimate to one thousand parts 
of water. The most convenient method of preparing this solu- 
tion is to use the Corrosive sublimate tablets sold by druggists for 
making disinfecting solutions. One tablet, costing one cent, is 
sufficient to make a pint of solution which is about the quantity 
required to treat one pound of cabbage seed. The seed should 
be soaked in this solution for fifteen minutes and then spread out 
to dry. z 
If formalin is used the strength of the solution should be one 
part of formalin (40 per ct. formaldehyde) to 240 parts of water 
and the seed soaked fifteen minutes. 
With both corrosive sublimate and formalin the strength of 
solution recommended is approximately the same as is generally 
used in treating seed potatoes to prevent scab; namely, two and 
one-fourth ounces of corrosive sublimate to fifteen gallons of 
water or one pint of formalin in thirty gallons of water. Since 
the usual time of sowing cabbage seed is about the same as that 
for planting potatoes it may often happen that the solution re- 
quired for disinfecting the cabbage seed may be taken from that 
prepared for treating potatoes, thus avoiding the bother of prepar- 
ing a small quantity especially for the cabbage seed. 
