TREATMENT OF DAMPING-OFF IN CONIFEROUS SEEDLINGS. (i 
10 pounds of the latter, in the following way: Fresh stone lime was 
slaked with as little water as would keep the slaking in progress. 
In this way slaked lime was obtained in the form of a fine powder. 
This was screened and very thoroughly mixed with the powdered 
copper sulphate, and was then ready to be used. Attention is called 
to the need of thoroughly mixing the, two ingredients, as disastrous 
results are likely to ensue if the copper sulphate is not properly 
diluted with the lime. 
This mixture was used very freely after the seedlings had come up. 
Absolutely no injurious results could be noted, even when the applica- 
tions were made early in the morning while the seedlings were still 
wet with dew so that the powder stuck to them. It may be said that 
the better time to apply the powders and also the solutions is late in 
the afternoon. The powders will then adhere very shghtly to the 
plantlets and practically all of the powder will fall on the soil, where 
it is wanted. | 
This copper and lime mixture was used upon the following species: 
Pinus sylvestris, P. pondcrosa, P. strobus, P. resinosa, Picea rubens, 
P. excelsa, and Pseudotsuga taxifolia. Very good results were ob- 
tained in checking the damping-off with it, and it is believed to be 
one of the mixtures tested which may prove of value commercially. 
SGLUTIONS USED. 
Potassium sulphid and permanganate.—A solution of potassium 
sulphid, made at the rate of 1 ounce of dry chemical to 1 gallon of 
water and applied to the soil before sowing the seed, gave no definite 
results because of the absence of the disease in the experimental plots. 
This was also true of a solution of potassium permanganate, mixed at 
the rate of 1 gram of chemical to 1 gallon of water and similarly 
applied. 
Formalin——Commercial 40 per cent formalin, used at the rate of 4 
ounces to 3 gallons of water, when applied to the soil before seeding 
and not afterward repeated, seemed to have no effect whatever upon 
the disease. The check plot, indeed, was much better, as were all of 
the other plots, both treated and untreated, located in that section of 
the nursery. When applied as stated and repeated after the seedlings 
had come up, the results were poor. It is now believed that formalin 
is of little value with the damping-off diseases of coniferous seedlings 
unless supplemented after the germination of the seed with some other 
efficient chemical. The results were disappointing when compared 
with those obtained with some of the other chemicals. 
Sulphuric acid.—The best results were obtained with weak solutions 
of sulphuric acid. A solution mixed at the rate of 1 ounce of acid to 
1 gallon of water was applied to the soil several days before sowing 
