1920.] 



Report on the Treatment of Seeds. 



975 



The result is entirely different, however, when the electrified 

 seeds are compared with the untreated. 



Effect of Electrolytic Treatment, 



Average dry weight per pot of five plants. Two pots in each set. 





Untreated 

 Seed. 



Electrified 

 Seed. 



Gain or Loss due to 

 Electrolytic Treatment, 



Barley. 



grams. 



grams. 





Expt. I. Grain 



lyo 



9-8 



Loss of 24*6 per cent. 



Straw 



19-6 



17-4 





2. Grain 



i6'o 



i6-5 



Gain of 3'i „ 



Straw 



35-6 



33-6 



Loss of 5-6 



Oats. 



Expt. I. Grain 



9-25 



10 '4 



Gain of 12 "4 per cent. 



Straw 



20 'O 



i6'o 



Loss of 20 'o ,, 



„ 2. Grain 



1375 



15-8 



Gain of 14*9 „ 



Straw 



36-2 



36-2 



None. 



In five out of the eight cases there is no increase, in some there 

 is a loss. Of the other three cases the slight gain of 3 per cent, 

 is too small for any certainty as to gain to be reckoned ; the 

 other two gains might be real, but they do not in any case 

 represent much. 



The experiment was repeated in 191 9 with seven different 

 lots of wheat, part in each case being treated and part un- 

 treated. The seed was received on 20th December, 191 8, and 

 sown on 26th February, 191 9. The results are set out in the 

 order of merit, and are as follows : — 



Treatment apparently advantageous. 



Average dry weight per pot of five plants. Three pots in each set. 





Untreated 

 Seed. 



Electrified 

 Seed. 



Gain or Loss due to 

 Electrolytic Treatment. 



Ca. 3000 Ears . . 



Straw 

 Ca. 2998 Ears . . 



Straw 



grams. 

 5*9 

 15-7 

 4*7 

 13*7 



grams. 

 II -o 

 17-0 

 6-0 

 i6-8 



Gain of 86*4 per cent. 

 8-3 



277 „ 



22-6 „ 





Treatment ineffective. 





Ca. 3002 Ears . . 

 Straw 



11*7 



19-9 



II -4 



20-5 



None, 



