REPORT OF THE SOCIETY 81 



Cranefield, in 1901, and again in 1902, observed that a forntalin solution 

 as weak as 23^ parts to 1000 injured the germination of oats. The inju'-y varied 

 from 6.4 per cent to 17.4 per cent. When stronger solutions were used the 

 percentage of injury increased in direct proportion to the strength of the solu- 

 tion. An increase in the length of the time did not proportionately increase 

 the injury when the standard formula was used (2i'-o paHs to 1000). 



In 1902, Mezentzov working in Russia, determined the effects of planting 

 untreated and treated seed in a dry and moist soil. The treatments used wee 

 copper sulphate with and without subsequent lime-water bath, and hot water. 

 He obtained higher germination percentages in moist soil, both with untreated 

 and treated seed. 



Stevens, in 1909, ascertained that the amount of injury to oats treated 

 with formaldehyde depended upon the duration of treatment, strength of solu- 

 tion and quahty of seed. Oats dipped in milk of lime after treatment with 

 formaldehyde showed an improvement in percentage of germination. 



Stewart and Stevens in Utah, in 1910, found that the injurj'- to wheat,, 

 oats, and barley when treated with formaldehyde increased as the concentration 

 of the solution was increased. Oats were more resistant to the influence of 

 formalin than were wheat and barley. They state that of seed is thoroughly 

 dried it may be kept for at least six weeks after treatment. 



Gussow, in 1913, stated that chemicals, v/hile very effective in controlling 

 smut, exerts an injurious influence on the grain. Formalin treatment was found 

 to exert a very curious influence upon wheat kept in storage after treatment. 

 Figures regarding this, furnished him by Dr. C.-E. Saunders, Dominion 

 Cerealist, show that wheat originally germinating 75 per cent had lost its life 

 completely when retested one year later. A sample of oats originally germi- 

 nating G2 per cent and one of barley with 71 per cent, germinated a year after 

 treatment 2 per cent and 3 per cent, respectivelj'. 



In 1918, Kiessling in Germany, noted that individual lots of seed varied 

 widely in their reaction to the injurious effects of formaldehyde. An apparent 

 stimulation to germination occurred in som.e cases. Oats were not found to 

 be injured by storage after treatment. 



Braun, in 1920, determined that presoaking cereals in water decreased 

 the injurious effects of formaldehyde and copper sulphate. 



Hurd, in 1920, found that if treated wheat is held several days or more befo- 

 re sowing, it is severely injured if allowed to dry without thorough aeration 

 during the storage period. The seed injury on drying was apparently due to a 

 deposit of paraformaldehyds on the seed. 



Howitt and Stone, in 1922, reported their results from the use of the dry 

 formaldehyde treatment for oats. In the four years experiments the average 

 percentage of germination of treated and untreated seed was found to be exactly 

 the same, namely 97.5 per cent. 



