THIIE 
SGRKJULTURSL  mSGSZinG, 
COLOMBO. 
Added  rt.s  a Supplement  Munthljj  to  the  “ TROPICAL  AGRIGU LT U RISTT 
The  Eollowiug  pages  iuclude  the  Cjiiteubs  of  the  AgriciUtaral  Mivjaum 
for  July 
Vol.  VIL] 
JULY,  189.3. 
[No.  1. 
I’ICKLING  OF  SEED. 
1^  lb.  of  sulphate  of  copper  iii  2 gallons  of  water 
with  suffice  for  oiio  qu  arter  of  corn.” 
HE  treatment  of  seeal  before  plant- 
ing is  not  altogether  unknown  to 
the  natives  of  Ceylon,  but  it  is 
doubtful  whether  the  efficacy  of 
pickling  or  steepitig  is  fully  recog- 
nised by  them.  A very  common 
practice  among  our  gardeners  is  to  mix  their  seeds 
(those  of  chillies,  brinjals,  cucumber  for  instance) 
with  aslies,  but  as  far  as  we  know  the  objects  with 
which  this  is  done  is  to  pi’eveut  insects  from  at^ 
tacking  the  seeds  before  tliey  are  planted,  to 
keep  them  tolerably  dry  and  prevent  them  from 
becoming  mouldy.  Again,  natives  often  hang  up 
parcels  of  seeils  that  are  intended  for  planting,  ‘ in 
the  smoke,’  tliat  is,  above  their  fire  places  so  as  to 
allow  the  seeds  to  be  well  smoked— tlie  objects 
in  tills  Case  being  the  same  as  before.  Xow  tlie 
latter  practice  will  no  doubt  also  preserve  the 
seeds  to  some  extent  from  insect-attack  after  they 
are  planted,  but  we  doubt  if  tins  effect  is 
recognised  by  those  who  adopt  the  i»ractice. 
tVe  have  heard  of  one  or  two  cases  wliere  paihly 
and  other  seeds  are  soaked  in  a solution  of  urine, 
ill  order  to  prevent  tlie  seeds  being  destroyed  by 
insects  as  well  as  to  hasten  germination  and  nourish 
the  young  plant  at  the  start ; but  this  is  not  a 
common  practice.  In  English  text-books  on  agri- 
culture, we  generally  reail  of  pickling  cereal  seeds 
in  bluestoiie  solution  as  a remedy  for  the  fungoid 
disease}  known  as  “smut”  and  “bunt.”  Dr. 
Froam  in  liis  te.xt-book  says;— “A  soUitiou  of 
Town  and  Country  thus  refers  to  the  pickling  of 
corn  seed:— “A  solution  of  sulphate  of  Copper 
(bluestone)  is  used  for  pickling  seed  wheat,  as  a 
remedy  for  smut.  The  strength  of  the  solutiO,| 
generally  used  is  1 lb.  of  bluestone  to  4 gal.  df 
water,  and  some  kinds  of  wheat  are  treated  with  a 
weaker  solution,  say  1 lb.  of  bluestone  to  5 gal; 
of  water.  Supposing  you  have  to  use  71b.  Of 
bluestone,  dissolve  it  in  J gal.  of  hot  water,  and 
then  bring  the  solution  up  to  28  gal.  with  cold 
i\atei.  Hiis  solution  is  piit  in  a tub  of  convenient 
size,  and  the  Avheat  dipped  in  it.  For  clipping 
purposes  the  .seed  may  be  put  in  wicker  baskets, 
perforated  kerosene  tins,  or  thin  bags  sUch  its  bran 
bags.  The  solution  penetrates  every  part  of  the 
wheat  in  a few  seconds,  cvlien  the  grain  is  lifted 
out  and  allowed  to  drip  for  a short  time.  The 
wheat  is  then  ready  for  immediate  sowing,  or  it 
may  be  kept  for  a few  days  before  planting;  See 
that  the  bluestone  you  use  is  pure.  Buy  it  from 
.some  reputable  lioii.se,  because  it  is  sometimes 
largely  adulterated  with  sulphate  of  iron.  It  is 
said  that  dipping  the  seed  for  five  minutes  in 
water  of  the  temperature  of  127  deg.  Fall,  kills  the 
spores  of  smut.” 
We  find  the  following  in  our  notes  of  Frof 
Wallace's  L’niversity  lectures  There  are  three 
kinds  of  pickles  or  steeps  in  use  : alkaline,  metallic 
and  neutral.  Brine,  sulphate  of  soda  and  lime  are 
alkaline  steeps,  and  do  pretty  well,  the  action 
