INJURY BY DISINFECTANTS TO SEEDS AND ROOTS. 35 
consequent on the capillary rise of the soil solution and the evaporation 
of water from the soil surface. It is found that in a sandy Nebraska 
soil all injury can be prevented by very frequent watering during the 
germinating period (pp. 11-12). It can also be prevented in the case 
of acid applications by adding lime to the soil shortly after treating 
with the disinfectant (pp. 21-22). The lime method, while undesir- 
able in the case of pines, is probably the only one which will prevent 
injury to angiospermous seedlings. The acids can be applied to seed 
beds at the time of sowing without any injury to dormant pine seed. 
Formaldehyde and mercuric chlorid in sufficient disinfecting strengths 
must be used several days before seed sowing, as they are able to kill 
dormant pine seed in the soil. Formaldehyde applied at or before 
seed sowing never causes the injury to germinating pines that is 
caused by the acids and salts. 
ADDITIONAL COPIES 
OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE PROCURED FROM 
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS 
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 
AT 
5 CENTS PER COPY 
f* 
\ 
WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1915 
