4 BULLETIN" 818, U, S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Section 4 received an application of approximately 17,000 c. c. 
(17 liters) of cold water and acted as a check. To sections 1, 2, and 3 
were applied, respectively, 8,500, 13,500, and 17,000 c. c. of boiling 
water, which is approximately equivalent to an application of 750, 
1,000, and 1,500 c. c. per 8-inch pot of soil. In the case of section 1 
the whole quantity was applied at one time; on sections 2 and 3 the 
hot water was applied in two doses put on a few minutes apart, for 
the reasons that the soil would not take up the entire volume of 
water at one time, and, furthermore, the means for heating this 
quantity at once were not at hand. In the case of section 1 the 
water applied was sufficient to wet thoroughly all the soil, and a 
small proportion ran through. In sections 2 and 3 a considerable 
proportion of water ran through, but it was noted that the first dose 
compacted the soil to a certain extent, so that the second dose ran 
through but slowly. To further assist in holding the heat in the soil, 
the sections were covered with newspapers immediately following 
the treatment. The bench sections were left for seven days, to allow 
the soil to dry out sufficiently for planting. 
PLANTING OF SEED. . 
In the 4 and 8 inch pot experiments, Stone tomato seeds were sown 
five days after the treatment, fairly thick, but as uniformly as possible. 
In the bench sections two rows each of Stone tomatoes and Big 
Boston lettuce were sown in a similar manner, especial care being 
taken to make the sowings as uniform as possible in the different 
sections. 
RESULTS. 
The results from these experiments were recorded in the form of 
comparative germination counts taken two weeks after planting, and 
notes made at intervals on the damping-off and nematode infection 
and on the size and vigor of the plants. All the plants were allowed to 
grow for about seven weeks, and the experiment was then terminated. 
All the plants were removed from the pots and benches, and the soil 
was washed carefully from the roots, especial care being taken to 
preserve the entire root systems intact. The plants were then 
examined for nematode galls or injuries due to the attacks of soil 
fungi, records being made of the number and severity of each. Iso- 
lations were made to determine the organism responsible for the 
damping-off and root discolor ations found. Pythium debaryanum 
was found to be the cause of damping-off, while Khizoctonia species 
caused stem lesions and root discolorations. All data obtained 
were supported by photographs taken at various stages during the 
progress of the experiment to illustrate the important results noted. 
The details of the results are given in Tables I and II. 
