618 



ess is attended with another advantage. During recent years ex- 

 perimenters have frequently shown that the largest and heavier seeds 

 of various plants produce the best plants and crops. A marked gain 

 results from selecting such seeds. He who would improve his varie- 

 ties and crops must practice selection. It is the plant breeders magic 

 wand. It is not enough that we select out the fittest among plants, 

 but we should carry the principle of selection to the very source 

 the seeds from which plants spring. By floating out weak and 

 smutted rice seeds, as below described, and using only the heavy 

 and healthy, we will be applying this useful principle to our rice 

 crop. 



If rice seed in the husk be poured into cold water and stirred 

 about, all good seed sink after a few seconds. Smutted, light or de- 

 fective grains remain floating. These may then be skimmed off 

 and burned. This treatment answers of course only for rice 

 "paddy," or in the husk. 



Dissolve one and a half pounds of potassium sulphide or liver 

 of sulphur (fused) in twenty-five gallons of water in a barrel or other 

 wooden vessel. Add now three bushels of the seed to be treated and 

 stir thoroughly so as to wet every grain. The whole should then be 

 left standing twenty-four hours, when the liquid should be strained 

 off and the grain spread out to dry. This solution may be used over 

 for three lots of seed if used immediately, but the solution of potas- 

 sium sulphide does not keep. The grain should be spread out to dry 

 in as thin a layer as practicable in order to dry readily. If it is to 

 be sow T n at once, however, thorough drying will not be necessary. 



Some experimenters recommend soaking the seed a shorter time 

 in a stronger solution because the grain is afterward easier to dry. 

 If this method be followed a 2 per cent, solution of potassium sul- 

 phid (8 pounds to 50 gallons of w r ater) may be used. In this the 

 grain should be left two hours, and the seed treated otherwise as 

 above. 



Seeds may be immersed for a few seconds in scalding water for 

 the destruction of smut spores, but only for a few seconds, otherwise 

 the embryo will be injured or killed. A safer plan is to immerse 

 them for a longer time in water at a lower temperature. This is 

 the plan which is ordinarily followed. 



For this treatment two large vessels holding each some twenty 

 gallons at least are necessary. One of these should contain water at 

 a temperature of 110 degrees to 120 degrees (Fahrenheit) ; and the 

 other water at a temperature of 132 degrees to 133 degrees, F. The 

 second vessel should contain as much water as will equal in bulk 

 five or six times that of the seed to be treated. It will then be more 

 easily kept at the proper temperature, which is as near as possible to 

 133 degrees, F. Besides these vessels two others with a supply of 

 cold and boiling water should be conveniently at hand to be used in 

 maintaining the required temperature of the hot water bath. 



The seed to be treated are first placed (a half bushel or more at 

 a time) in a bag of loosely woven material or sacking, or else in a 

 basket of wire netting. Plunge it then first into the vessel contain- 



