3G 



s treched. This would allow the water to pass freely, and yet 

 prevent the passage of the seed. A. sack made of loosely woven 

 material (as gunny-sack) could perhaps be used instead of the 

 wire basket. A perforated tin vessel might be preferable to any 

 of the above. 



Now dip the basket of seed in the first vessel; after a moment 

 lift it; and when the water has for the most part escaped, plunge 

 it into the water again, repeating the operation several times. 

 The object of the lifting and plunging, to which might be ad- 

 ded also a rotary motion, is to bring every grain in contact with 

 the hot water. Less than a minute is required for this pre- 

 paratory treatment, after which plunge the basket of seed into 

 the second vessel. If the thermometer indicates that the tem- 

 perature of the water is falling pour in hot water until it 

 is elevated to 132|. If it should rise higher than that, add 

 small quantities of cold water. This will doubtless be the most 

 effectual method of keeping the proper temperature, and re- 

 quires only the addition of two small vessels one for cold and 

 the other for boiling water. The basket of seed should very 

 shortly after its immersion be lifted and then plunged and agi- 

 tated in the manner described above, and the operation should 

 be repeated eight to ten times during the immersion (which 

 should be continued fifteen minutes). In this way every por- 

 tion of the seed will be subjected to the action of the scalding 

 water. * Immediatelyafter its removal dash cold water over it, or 

 plunge it into a vessel of cold water, and then spread out to dry. 

 Another portion can be treated similarly, and so on till all the 

 seed has been disinfected. Before thoroughly dry, the seed can 

 be sown. 



The important precautions to be taken as follows: 1st Main- 

 tain the proper temperature of the water (132 J Fahr.), in no 

 case allowing it to rise higher than 135 or to fall below 130. 

 This will not be difficult to do if a reliable thermometer is used 

 and hot or cold water be dipped into the vessel as the falling or 

 rising temperature demands. Immersion fifteen minutes will 

 not then injure the seed. 2nd. See that the volume of scald- 

 ing water is much greater (at least six or eight times) than that 

 of the seed treated at any one time. 3rd. Never fill the basket 



