146 
one, two and three and a half hours, soaking did not materially decrease 
the relative percentages, while with those treated with a 2 per cent. solu- 
tion for one hour only 48 per cent. germinated, and none showed life after 
four hours soaking. It will therefore be seen that oats can endure the 
treatment much better than wheat. 
An interesting condition in the increased percentage in the germination 
of the treated seeds as compared with the untreated ones in all of the tests 
can allow of little explanation. The plants of the seeds treated up to four 
hours were, after a few days, quite a little larger than those of the 
untreated ones, and this condition remained constant throughout the 
development of the plant. It seemed that in this case the formalin must 
have in some way contributed to the development of the plant, notwith- 
standing the statement of T. Bokorny* that this substance ununited was 
not beneficial to growth. 
It is evident, however, that oats can safely be treated for three hours 
in a % per cent. solution of formalin without danger of injury to the 
germinating power of the seed. 
With rye, 44 per cent. germinated after soaking in a 1% per cent. solu- 
tion for one hour, with but a slight decrease in the number after four 
hours treatment. With the 2 per cent. solution none germinated after 
three and a half hours treatment. It is therefore evident that rye will 
not endure the treatment as well as wheat. 
In the case of corn, after soaking in a % per cent. solution for one hour 
92 per cent. germinated, equaling the per cent. that developed from the 
untreated seeds. After two hours in the solution a very slight decrease : 
was noted, and after three and a half hours only 52 per cent. germinated. 
After the use of a 2 per cent. solution for one hour but 56 per cent. devel- 
oped. Corn, therefore, seems to endure the treatment fairly well, and the 
use of a % per cent. solution for one hour will not decrease the per cent. 
of seeds that germinate. 
Buckwheat, millet, beans and other seeds were treated with quite sat- 
isfactory results, and while no use can probably be made of such a treat- 
ment with these seeds, yet their behavior was interesting as illustrating 
the general effect of formalin on germinating seeds and developing seed- 
lings. 
*Landsw. Jahrb., 21 (1892), pp. 445-446. 
