88 



PROTECTION OF PLANTS — 1923-24 



in formalin solutions of the following strengths, 1 pint to 40 gallons of water, 1 

 pint to 20 gallons and 1 pint to 2 gallons. The different lots of seed were dipped 

 for ten minutes in each solution, the temperature of the solution being 18 C. 

 After treatment the seed was drained, covered for an hour, and spread out to 

 dry. As a control for the above, similar sets of seed were simply treated in the 

 formalin solutions, without being presoaked. 



When dry, two, 100 seed samples were taken from each seed lot treated 

 and planted in soil in flats. The moistu^'e content of the soil at the time of 

 planting was 16.2 per cent. This moisture content was maintained as nearly as 

 possible during the period of germination. 



In the following table the percentages of germination, at the end of ten 

 days from the time of planting are given. The figures denote the average of the 

 two samples of seed. 



TABLE V. 



Effect of Presoaking Before Formalin Treatment. 



The figures in Table V show that the presoaking of the seed as outlined was 

 of no special value, if any, to the hulled varieties of oats, in reducing seed injury. 

 The presoaking was advantageous in reducing the injury to the Liberty oats 

 but unless the seed is planted at once or dried quickly after treatment it is 

 liable to commence germinating. 



The chief value of the presoaking before treatment, was the apparent stimu- 

 lative effect it had on the germination of the seed. The seedlings of presoaked 

 seeds, of all varieties, treated in a formalin solution of 1 pint in 40 gallons, had 

 emerged on the fourth day after planting. None of the other seedlings were 

 noticeable at the time. They were a day later in apperaring above the surface 

 of the soil. 



