REPORT OF THE SOCIETY 85 



an unusually long period. This injury showed itself both in a retardation and 

 reduction in germination. 



The Alaska variety was injured to a greater extent than the other two 

 hulled varieties. The greater injury, in this variety, appeared to be due to the 

 fact that, when the seed was soaked for any length of time in a solution, the 

 hull became loose around the kernel allowing the formalin solution to penetrate 

 to the embryo more easily. 



It was noted that where germination was adversely affected, it was nearly 

 always due to the failure of the radicle to emerge, although in some cases the 

 plumule was also distorted. There were also cases where neither the plumule 

 nor the radicle appeared. 



The Liberty oats were injured in proportion to the duration of treatment. 

 Extending the duration resulted in extreme injury being produced. The type 

 of injury in this variety was the same as that already mentioned. 



It can be concluded from the results, obtained in the above experiment, 

 that hulled oats may be subjected to the formalin treatment, for a considerably 

 longer duration of time than that required for smut disinfection, without any 

 appreciable injury to the seed. The Liberty oats are very sensitive to the action 

 of the formalin solution, and any unnecessary amount of time taken in treat- 

 ment may result in extreme injury to the seed. 



Hurd (1921) of the United States Department of Agriculture, found that 

 the temperature of the solution was a factor in the resistance of wheat to long 

 immersions in a saturated copper sulphate solution, the germination being 

 poorer as the temperature increased. It was thought that probably a similar 

 relation might exist with oats, even when the recommended strength of formalin 

 solution for smut control was used. 



Samples of seed, taken as in previous experiments, were dipped for ten 

 minutes in a formalin solution of 1 pint to 40 gallons (1:40), at the different 

 stated temperatm-es. Control samples of seed were dipped, for the same length 

 of time in tap water at the same temperatures. The solutions were maintained 

 at the required temperatures by means of bunsen burners. The beakers contain- 

 ing the solutions were placed in hot water baths at the respective constant 

 temperatures. After treatment the seeds ware drained, covered for an hour, 

 allowed to dry and placed to germinate as previously. 



In the following table the percentages given are the average of two samples 

 of seed of each variety. The germination count was made at the end of ten days. 



