i I 6 General Treat )}ieut for Simtts. 



When seed was treated with varying strengths of formalin and sown after 

 24 hours, the results of germination were as follows : — 



Untreated . . . . . . . . 84 per cent. 



Formalin, 1 lb. in 40 gallons . . . . 77 ,, 



2 lbs. in 40 gallons . . . . 62 ,, 



3 lbs. in 40 gallons . . . . 41 ,, 



The increased strength of formalin above the normal 1 in 40 decreases 

 the amount of germination in a progressive degree. 



But when the treated seed was sown after being kept for varying periods 

 of time our experiments showed, on the whole, that wheat treated with 1 lb. 

 in 40 gallons of water loses its power of germination to some extent at least, 

 after being kept a few days ; that this effect is cumulative for a time at least, 

 but it gradually disappears again after, say, four or five weeks. 



The late Mr. Farrer also arrived at practically the same conclusion from 

 his experiments in New South Wales, and he summed up as follows : — 



" (1) Formalin does not exercise an injurious effect upon the vitality 

 of seed grain if it be treated just prior to planting, and the con- 

 ditions at planting time are favorable for its germination. 

 (2) It is undesirable (and previous experiments at Lambrigg prove 

 unnecessary) to treat seed-wheat with a stronger solution of 

 formalin than that made by mixing 1 lb. of formalin with 40 gal- 

 lons (400 lbs.) of water." 



It was not considered necessary to carry out the same series of exhaustive 

 experiments with bluestone as with formalin, but grain treated at the rate of 

 1 lb. in 5 gallons of water actually germinated better, instead of deteriorating, 

 after being kept for nine and fifteen days respectively. 



Formalin is a well-known antiseptic, disinfectant, and preservative, and 

 is extensively and most satisfactorily used for the treatment of Stinking smut 

 in both the United States and Canada. From its less corrosive action on 

 the seed and the higher percentage of germination which it yields it has 

 certain advantages over bluestone, and if the seed is sown within 24 hours 

 of treatment in a soil sufficiently moist to insure germination the freedom of 

 the resulting crop from bunt is assured. 



Hot Water Treatment. 



In addition to various chemical substances, heat has also been employed 

 for the destruction of the spores. At first a dry heat was used for the purpose, 

 but what we now know of the resistance of spores to such a heat makes the 

 success of such a method highly improbable. But the hot water treatment 

 of the seed introduced by Jensen in 1888 has proved highly successful. It 

 is a method, however, which is never likely to become popular with our 

 farmers, since without special conveniences it is rather troublesome, and as 

 the methods already given are simpler and equally effective they are 

 generally preferred. The process consists in immersing the seed in 

 hot water at a temperature ranging between 55° to 57° C. (132 to 

 135° F.), and then plunging it into cold water, and it is the regulation 

 of the temperature which makes the demands on the care and atten- 

 tion of the farmer. Where a steam jet is available it is easy to regulate 

 the temperature. I will just describe the method, as carried out by myself : 

 Three barrels were used — one with cold water, another with the water heated 

 to about 44° C. (111° F.), and a third in which the temperature was main- 

 tained at 55-57° C. The grain was placed in a wire mesh basket made for 

 the purpose, and then dipped into the barrel with water at a temperature of 



