1905.] 



Sale of Inferior Seeds. 



39 



in paraffin and in turpentine, and compared them with turnips 

 from untreated seed, as follows : — 



Paraffin ... ... ... 43 ft. 3 in. of 27-in. drill gave 95 lb. roots. 



Turpentine ... ... ,, ., ,, ,, 97 lb. , 



. No treatment ... ... ., ,, ,, 751b. 



The drills were side by side. 



The question was raised as to the length of time turnip seed 

 could be left in the paraffin or turpentine without injury to its 

 vitality. To remove any doubts turnip seed was germinated 

 that had been in paraffin or turpentine for varying periods. A 

 few hours or a day made no difference ; finally, after submerging 

 the seed in both liquids for three weeks, no change could be 

 found in the vitality or rapidity of germination as compared 

 with unsteeped seed. On one farm, seed was steeped for periods 

 varying from thirty minutes to three hours, and the longest 

 period of steeping produced the earliest and most vigorous 

 growth. Steeping in water for the same length of time did 

 not produce the same effect. 



On one or two farms spreading sand or sawdust steeped in 

 paraffin on the drills gave remarkable results. The young 

 turnips were bright green, strong, and numerous, while the 

 untreated drills alongside showed a few weak plants paler in 

 colour and dotted with light brown spots. 



Careful observation showed that these spots were caused by 

 a little Ceutorhynchus beetle, which attacks the cotyledons before 

 they are above ground and just as they emerge from the seed 

 coats. The spots are not due to "fly" or frost as is sometimes 

 stated. The method of spreading sand or sawdust is, of course, 

 expensive and impracticable ; it was adopted to ascertain the 

 effect of a strong-smelling material. In one trial only the 

 farmer reported that steeping spoiled the braird. Spraying 

 the surface of the drill seemed to produce no effect. 



The Board of Agriculture consider it desirable again to call 



the attention of purchasers of farm and garden seeds to the 



provisions of the Adulteration of Seeds 



Sale Of Acts of i860 and 1878. Under these Acts 



Inferior Seeds. . . . , rr 



it is a criminal offence to sell, or cause to 



be sold, any killed or dyed seed, or to kill or dye, or to cause 



