208 The Woburn Pot-Culture Experiments , 1904. 
The general results as regards soaking the seed before 
sowing are that sulphate of manganese in the weaker strengths 
increased the germination, but that sulphate of iron did not ; 
while a 5 per cent, solution of either salt markedly decreased 
germination. Sulphate of manganese did not increase the 
weight of corn above the untreated seed, nor did a 1 per cent, 
solution of sulphate of iron ; but 2 per cent, and 5 per cent, 
solutions of sulphate of iron, the latter in particular, gave 
decided increase of corn as well as of straw. When used as 
solutions for direct application, sulphate of manganese, while 
slightly improving the germination, gave improved yields of 
corn and straw for applications up to \ cwt. per acre, a heavier 
one (1 cwt.) failing, however, to do this. With sulphate of 
iron almost the very reverse was the case, the applications of 
\ cwt. and 1 cwt. per acre increasing the grain and straw, while 
the J cwt. application did not. 
The use of silicates of potash and soda, though seeming 
to lessen the germination, was distinctly beneficial, especially 
as regards increase of straw when in the larger application of 
4 cwt. per acre, but uncertain as regards that of 2 cwt. 
From these results the following conclusions may be drawn 
as regards wheat : — 
1. That soaking of the seed, before sowing, in solutions of 
sulphate of manganese and sulphate of iron improves the 
germination so long as the strength does not exceed 2 per 
cent. 
2. That soaking the seed in solutions of sulphate of 
manganese gives no appreciable increase of corn or straw, but 
soaking in a 2 per cent, or 5 per cent, solution of sulphate of 
iron will give increase of grain and straw. 
3. That solutions of sulphate of manganese applied direct 
to the growing plant up to \ cwt. per acre improve the yield, 
as does also sulphate of iron when used at a rate of \ cwt. or 
1 cwt. per acre. 
4. That silicates of potash and soda, while not improving 
the germination, are beneficial when applied at the rate of 
4 cwt. per acre, but not less. The straw, in particular, is 
considerably increased. 
2. (a) The Influence of Sulphate of Manganese and 
Sulphate of Iron on Barley. 
(b) The Influence of Silicate of Potash and Silicate of 
Soda on Barley. 
These experiments were practically on the same lines as 
those on wheat just described. The one difference was that, 
in the case of the direct applications to the growing plant, the 
solutions of sulphate of manganese and sulphate of iron were 
