CHAPTER XVII 
GRAINS AND OTHER SEEDS 
5 N view of the fact that hydrocyanic acid gas is 
AG being universally used as a fumigant for the 
G20} destruction of insects in grain and seeds stored 
~~ in various enclosures, it became necessary to 
know how this gas would affect edible and germinating 
properties of the grain. Conclusive and detailed 
results were obtained. by Dr. Charles O. Townsend, 
now Pathologist in the U.S. Department of Agricul- 
ture. The work was done in connection with the 
Maryland State Horticultural Department while he 
was State Pathologist. The methods employed in 
these experiments consisted simply in placing the seeds 
to be tested in air-tight chambers and then generating 
the desired amount of gas. In the first experiments 
air-tight boxes of several cubic feet capacity, such 
as are used by nurserymen, were employed. In these 
various experiments the gas was generated in the same 
manner as for nursery stock. In later experiments 
Dr. Townsend used large glass bell-jars. The jars were 
so arranged that the gas could be generated and kept 
within them for any length of time with the seeds. 
The seeds used were mostly corn, wheat, beans and 
clover. Occasionally other seeds were used, but those 
mentioned were carried through all the experiments 
and fairly represent the common grains and other seeds. 
Some seeds under certain conditions seem to be more 
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