56 
BULLETIN 1374, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
These tests were conducted a few days after the seed was treated. 
They show plainly that the treated seed was not damaged when 
cooled immediately. 
Table 45. — Percentage of germination of seed after treatment in live-steam machine 
Seed tem- 
perature on 
discharge 
OF 
136 -140— 
143 
143 -145— 
144 -147— 
145. 5-141. 5. 
145 
145 
145 
145 
145 
145.5 
Time in 
machine 
Min. sec. 
47 
1 20 
55 
55 
1 5 
1 20 
Germination 
Heated Check 
seed ! seed 
Per cent Per cent 
83 
Germination 
Seed tem- 
perature on 
discharge 
Time in 
machine 
Heated 
Check 
seed 
°F Min. sec. 
146.. 1 20 
146 1 20 
148 1 20 
149.5 1 8 
150 1 20 
150 1 5 
151 -145. 5.. 1 5 
152.5-152.... 55 
160 46 
Average 
Per cent Per cent 
85 
90 
82 
S3 
76 
91 
78 
80 
80 
82.0 
An experiment was performed to determine the time required for 
seed to cool if bulked immediately after treatment. Several tons of 
seed were treated, admitting steam only into the top conveyor, and 
bulked in the corner of the seed house. The seed registered a tem- 
perature on discharge ranging from about 140 to 152° F. After 
bulking, a recording thermometer was inserted into the seed pile. 
The readings obtained are shown graphically in Figure 13. A curve 
showing the mean daily outside air temperature during the period is 
also given. The difference between the temperature at discharge 
and that after bulking was probably caused by absorption of heat 
after leaving the machine and by loss incurred while the seed was 
carried in sacks and emptied in the corner of the seed house. 
•^Germination tests of some of this seed were made, using one un- 
treated sample, one treated sample that was cooled immediately, 
and one sample that was kept in bulk from December 15 to 30. 
These germination tests to date of this writing (April, 1923) resulted 
as shown in Table 46. 
Table 46. — Percentage of germination of seed treated in live-steam machine 
Sampie *5«* 
Febru- March, 
ary, 1923 1923 
Per cent 
Check. 85 
Per cent Per cent 
94 98 
Cooled immediately 86 
94 93 
"Rnlked Dee. 15 to 30 . . . _ 87 
92 97 
According to the above results, no harm follows bulking of seed 
immediatelv after treatment with live steam. 
AMOUNT OF MOISTURE ABSORBED BY SEED IN LIVE-STEAM TREATMENT 
Several tests were made with the live-steam machine to determine 
the amount of water absorbed by seed on treatment. Quantities of 
seed were weighed before treating and again after treating. The 
results are given in Table 47. 
