328 



INJURIOUS INSECTS AND FUNGI. 



[Dec. 1895. 



Jensen's Hot-water Method. 



M. Jensen advocates putting seed corn into hot water as 

 certain to disinfect it and not to destroy its vitality, which he 

 says blue-stoning does to the extent of from 3 to 10 per cent. 



M. Jensen's plan involves a boiler, or what is known as a 

 copper," to be found on most farms. This is filled with water 

 and heated to boiling point. Two tubs — half-pipes, for instance 

 — are set near the copper, in which water is kept and maintained 

 at a temperature ranging between 110° Fahr. and 130° Fahr, by 

 taking boiling water from the copper. The seed corn is placed 

 in a vessel of wire with a close mesh and secured lid, or in a bag 

 of coarse mesh, and is put into one of the tubs containing water 

 heated to 110° to 120° Fahr. The basket or bag is kept moving 

 up and down in the water. After one minute the basket or bag is 

 dipped into the other tub containing water at 127° to 130° Fahr. 

 The temperature of the water must be gauged by a thermometer 

 and regulated by pouring in hot or cold water into the tubs. 

 This second immersion should last from six to seven minutes, 

 during which time the basket or bag must be continually agitated 

 so that every grain isjexposed to the hot water. After this the 

 :seed corn is spread out on a floor or cloth to dry. 



