112 



MAINE STATE COLLEGE 



sprouting of the seeds. As was stated in last year's report, a 

 weak solution of corrosive sublimate, (mercuric chloride) one part 

 to ten thousand parts of water was used, in which the seeds were 

 dipped, after which they were washed in water that had been 

 boiled, and then placed in the germinator. Only a few were tried 

 in this way and no conclusions could be safely drawn from the 

 results. This year more experiments were made, in about the 

 same way. Two solutions were used each stronger than the first, 

 one having one part of the corrosive sublimate to one thousand 

 parts water, and the other, one part to five hundred parts water. 

 Below are tables showing the per cent., sprouted, with and without 

 being dipped in the solutions. 



Corrosive sublimate ] 



part to 



Corrosive sublimate 1 



part to 



1000 water 





500 parts water. 





Kind of seed. 



Not 



treated. 



Dipped in 

 solution. 



^ dof ^ ed -UreSed.l 



Dipped in 

 solution. 



Bean. 



79 



79 



Corn. 92 



88 



Parsnip. 



35 



37 



Beet. 71 



31 



Cabbage. 



46 



43 



Squash. 43 



20 



Carrot. 



43 



50 



Cucumber. 



* 72 



67 



Radish. 



,0 



7S 



Watermelon. 



78 



7S 



Tomato. 



76 



82 



Cabbage. 



S9 



82 



Celery. 



27 



7 



Carrot. 



47 



56 



Alfalfa. 



53 



58 



Turnip. 



100 



100 



Red Clover. 



87 



S9 



Parsnip. 



30 



3 



One thing is proven by these experiments, that in some eases at 



least, the sublimate did not injure the vitality of the seeds, and in 

 no case did it destroy all of the seeds, if it affected them in any way. 

 The average of the two columns is nearly the same. Those that 

 vary the most have the lowest percentage, while those that average 

 above seventy-five per cent, differ but little. Another thing is 

 sure, that the sublimate destroys the germs of the fun- 

 gus. Xone moulded after being treated, except the 

 squash, and that but little, while before being dipped it was com- 

 pletely covered with a dense forest of fungus. And yet, more 

 squash seeds sprouted when they were not treated with the solu- 

 tion. This makes it impossible to say at present whether it is of 

 any advantage to use the sublimate solution. In seven cases out 

 of the eighteen, more germinated when it was used. In eight 

 cases, more when it was not used, and in three instances there was 

 no difference. Till more data is obtained all we can assert is that 

 a solution of corrosive sublimate of proper strength will destroy 

 the germs of mould without destroying the vitality of the seeds, 

 and probably without injuring them. 



