1 907-] 



Manuring of Seeds Hay. 



487 



It is mentioned in ihe Board's leaflet No. 92 on the pre- 

 vention of bunt and smut that grain is apt to suffer somewhat 



seriously in germination when treated 

 Prevention of Bunt with blue-stone, and in the Journal 

 and Smut. (August, 1905) a number of experiments 



are recorded as to the effects of formalin 

 and blue-stone on germination. According to some further 

 experiments (Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales, March, 

 1907) made in New South Wales on the Cowra Experimental 

 Farm, the average of trials with twenty-six varieties showed 

 that treatment with hot water killed 18 -6 per cent, of the 

 seed, with blue-stone 18-4 per cent., with formalin 3-7 per 

 cent., with blue-stone and slaked lime i-8 per cent., and with 

 blue-stone and lime water 1*5 per cent. Although these 

 percentages are not of general application, they may probably 

 be regarded as indicating the relative advantages of the 

 different methods. They suggest very forcibly the desira- 

 bility of using lime with blue-stone, especially in the case of 

 barley and oats. This may best be done by dusting the seed 

 liberally with air-slaked lime after it has been treated with 

 blue-stone. It should then be spread out to dry. 



Experiments in the manuring of seeds hay have been con- 

 ducted by the Edinburgh and East of Scotland College of Agri- 

 culture for the three consecutive seasons 



Manuring of Seeds 1904-6 at fifty-one centres. The full 

 Hay. results are given in Bulletin XIII, from 



which it appears that the fertilising 

 ingredient that has produced the largest weight of crop has 

 been nitrogen. This has given equally good results either 

 in the form of nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia, and 

 the best results from a mixture of the two. 



The plots receiving the largest amount of nitrogen have 

 given the heaviest crops and valuing their produce at the 

 same rate as that grown on the other plots, they have given 

 the best financial return. Generally, however, it does not 

 seem advisable to apply more than 2 cwts. of nitrate of soda.. 



Phosphates and potash applied alone, and also in com- 

 bination with nitrogen, have been remunerative. Their effect 

 in preventing exhaustion of the soil, and in improving the 



