flEPORT OF THE SOCIETY 91 



Methods of Treatment. 



Dip Method. The seed lots were dipped in a formalin solution of 1 pint 

 of formalin to 40 gallons of water for ten minutes, drained, covered for an hour 

 and spread out to dry at room temperature. 



Sprinkle Method. The seed lots were sprinkled with the formahn solution, 

 of the above strength, at the rate of 1 gallon of the solution per bushel of seed. 

 The seed was covered for four hours, then spread out to dry in a thin laj^er. 



Spray Method. Each seed lot was sprayed with a formalin solution, at 

 the rate of 1 pint of formalin to 1 pint of water to 50 bushels of seed. After 

 treatment the seed was covered for five hours, and then spread out to air to 

 allow the escape of any remaining formaldehyde gas. 



Copper carbonate Method. The seed was shaken in a bottle with copper 

 carbonate at the rate of 2 ounces per bushel of seed, until each seed had a cover- 

 ing of the dust. 



Uspulun Method. Tlie seed was soaked for two hours in a .25 per cent 

 solution, drained, and allowed to dry. 



One set of seed of each treatment, was placed to germinate on moist sand 

 in flats, or planted in soil in flats, kept at room temperature. Dry storage of 

 treated seed took place in the laboratory. 



The rate and method of germination was observed until the tenth day 

 after planting, when the final count was made. 



It was observed, from the germination tests carried out in this experiment, 

 that the different formalin treatments had little or no injurious effect on the 

 germination of the hulled varieties of oats, although stored dry for a period of 

 ten months. It was noted with all the formalin treatments, that, in some cases, 

 there appeared to be a retardation of the radicles of the treated seed, compared 

 with those of the control sets of seed. The plumules of the treated seed emerged 

 quite as readily, and appeared to be as high in vitality as those of the control. 



The hulled varieties were not reduced in percentage of germination by the 

 copper carbonate treatment. A slight retardation, rather than any stimulative 

 action, was observed to occur in the treated seed germinated at the end of ten 

 months. 



The Uspulun treatment was not observed to injure the hulled varieties of 

 seed, although treated seed was dry stored for a month. No stimulative action 

 of the treatment on the seed was apparent. 



The Libert}^ oats were injured by all of the formalin treatments, although 

 germinated immediately after treatment. This injury was increased by dry 

 storage for one week. Ten months drj^ storage, however, did not produce a 

 corresponding amount of injury of the treated seed. 



The copper carbonate treatment did not reduce the percentage of germina- 

 tion, but after ten months storage slightly increased it. No retardation of germ- 

 ination was observed to occur. 



