REPORT OF THE SOCIETY 



89 



RELATION OF SOIL MOISTURE TO FORMALDEHYDE INJURY WITH 

 LIMED AND UNLIMED SEED. 



The following experiment was carried out for two purposes. Firstly, to 

 determine the relation of soil moisture to formaldehyde injury, and secondly, 

 to determine the value of a milk of lime dip after the formalin treatment. 



The different seed lots were dipped in the formalin solutions for ten minu- 

 tes. When removed they were drained and covered for an hour. After they were 

 uncove^'ed, part of each seed lot was dipped in a 1 per cent milk of lime solution 

 for ten minutes. 



After treatment, samples of seed taken in the usual manner were planted 

 in a dry and wet soil. The dry soil had a moisture content of 8.5 per cent, and 

 the wet soil 19.6 per cent, at the time of planting. After the seed had been in 

 the dry soil fo^' three days, it was made up to the same moisture content as the 

 wet soil. The results are presented in following table: — 



Table VI 

 Relation of moisture to formaldehyde injury with limed and unlimed used. 



Note — Control, unlimed. — seed was dipped in tap water for ten minutes. 

 Control, limed. — seed was dipped in tap water for twenty minutes. 



The most outstanding result of this experiment was the beneficial effect 

 on germination produced by the milk of lime dip after the formalin treatment. 

 In all cases it resulted in an increase to germination over the unlimed seeds, 

 with both the wet and dry soils. 



Besides reducing the percentage of injur}^ to germination, the milk of lime 

 dip appeared to hasten germination in many cases. In all cases the limed sets 

 of seed emerged from the soil ahead of the unlimed, and in some cases ahead 

 of the controls. 



