980 Report ox the Treatment of Seeds. [Jax. 



experimental ground, as the land is left in a condition seriously 

 lacking in uniformity. Crops taken after wheat or after ley, 

 where greater uniformity in soil condition can be attained, 

 showed no benefit from the treatment. 



The writer is not, therefore, prepared to admit that these 

 figures seriously conflict with the conclusions drawn from the 

 pot experiments. 



Seven results were sent in for crops harvested on farms in 

 Dorsetshire in 191 9. Again the weighings were made by a 

 disinterested competent person and may be accepted, and the 

 selection of farms was made by him from a fist submitted by 

 the proprietors. The plots weighed were usually i sq. perch, 

 but in two cases they were 2 sq. perches. It is well estabHshed 

 that single plots will not with certainty reveal dift'erences of 

 less than 10 per cent, or 12 per cent. The results are : — 



Treatment apparently advantageous. 



Crop. 



Untreated 

 Seed. 



Electrified 

 Seed. 



Gain or Loss due to 

 Electroi\i;ic Treatment. 



Wheat— 









(i) Grain, bush. 



51 



68 



Gain of 33 per cent. 



Straw, cwt. 



40 



59 



47 



(2) Grain, bush. 



32 



40 



25 



Straw, cwt. 



26 



26 



None. 



Oats— 









(3) Grain, bush. 



39 



43 



Gain of 10 per cent. 



Straw, cwt. 



16 



19 



Gain of 18 per cent. 



Treatment apparently i?ieffective. 



Wheat— 









(i) Grain, bush. 



35i 



39 



Gain of 10 per cent. 



Straw, cwt. 



30 



28 



None. 



(2) Grain, bush. 



41 



42 



None. 



Straw, cwt. 



28 



27* 



None. 



Oats— 









(3) Grain, bush. 



37 



36 



None. 



Straw, cwt. 



22 



21I 



None. 



Treatment apparently disadvantageous. 



Barley — 









(i) Grain, bush. 



43i 



36 



Loss of 17 per cent. 



Straw, cwt. 



24 



25 



None. 



Out of 7 cases 3 show no difference, and i a small gain ; 

 2 show distinct gains and i a distinct loss. These results are 

 entirely in accordance with those of the pot experiments ; 

 they indicate that the treatment cannot be relied upon tO; 



