SEED TREATMENT 
(For Disease Control) 
As no reference to the treatment of seeds has been made in 
the chart, a separate chapter is here devoted to the subject. 
It is quite obvious that only clean and disease-free seed 
should be planted. However, it behooves the grower to doubly 
safeguard his interests by properly treating his seeds before 
planting. The process is relatively inexpensive and will save 
the grower many a headache, as well as substantial sums in 
dollars and cents. 
The following recommendations are those suggested by Flor- 
ida State Experiment Stations: 
Treatment for the prevention of Damping Off fungi: 
Per Bu 
Beans nina geese ee S DEre One rere eee 21% oz. 
Beans, Snan and Pole .......... SDEr lone wees ee eee 2 02%. 
Pease es Bee 2 8 SDEre OTe ee eee 2% oz. 
Per 10 lbs. 
Béets eee te ds Ciprocid epee VY oz. 
OLED DELS ON eee eee eee WY oz. 
Caria lou pesmm te ee oe DDCreONW. Clee en cet 7a fey 
ORO CMCSA tie eee re nee eee ee W% oz. 
Carrots ee weet Cuprocid ee cera 2. % oz. 
Ve IOORAON cee ee ee WY oz. 
PTD ert SOMIGSAI pea te eee nee 1/3 0z. 
OTRCGUIDOCIC Cen eee VY oz. 
@abbacemG@amlitlowerme etc SDeLl OD sees eee 34 OZ. 
OTSSEMESAT wee ee eee. eee Y% oz. 
Cicumbersmeeseeee ee CMIGSAIIN etn eae Es W% oz. 
Egoplantcpeeeeee eee. Semesan gees ces see YW oz. 
Eiscaro |e mesa eee SCNIESAT gee eet ee Dy SmOz 
(ire (Ci ORCS eee WY oz. 
Lettuceweneee ere es (Guprocide meee 1/3 oz. 
OLESDELE ON yee eee eet eres A oz. 
Peppers Se S@MeSA Ngee eee a eee e 2 BaOZs 
Spinach pee ees SDETT Orlpe seat sees nee 14 oz. 
Lomatoeg meat ts Giprociden tems tease: 3% oz. 
Watermelonss sees S em Coa neers re ee Y% oz. 
Co? COWHHRILCNOE oe IS) ee 
The seed and seed treatment material should be thoroughly 
mixed together in a rotary drum mixer until all the seed are 
uniformly coated with the treatment material. In most cases 
this will take from three to five minutes at a speed of forty 
revolutions per minute. Screen off excess dust. 
TREATMENT FOR THE PREVENTION OF 
SEED-BORNE DISEASES: 
Hot water treatment affecting organisms on surface as 
well as within TOMATO seeds: 
Soaking of seeds in hot water having a minimum temperature 
of 122° F. (Not to exceed 129° F.) for a period of 25 minutes. 
Small quantities of seed should be placed in loosely woven cloth 
bags so as not to be over half filled. An accurate thermometer 
is necessary. After treatment the hot, wet seed should be 
spread out in thin layers for drying purposes. Old, weak seed 
should not be treated in this manner, as the germination would 
be affected seriously. Do not attempt this treatment, unless 
thoroughly understood and fully equipped. 
Bichloride of Mercury (Corrosive sublimate) treatment 
affecting organisms on surface of seeds: 
Cucumbers: Dilute 1:1000, immersing seed for 10 minutes. 
Less hardy seeds: Dilute 1:1000, immersing seeds for 5 min- 
utes. 
For small quantities of seed dissolve 1 tablet in 1 pint of 
water. 
For larger quantities dissolve 1 oz. of the powder form in 
7% gallons of water. It is advisable to dissolve the powder 
in a small quantity (a pint or quart) of boiling water first. 
Place seed in loosely woven cloth bags (about one half full). 
Submerge bags in solution and stir with a stick to loosen ad- 
hering bubbles. After soaking the proper length of time, re- 
move bags and drain thoroughly. Seed should be washed for 
15 minutes in several changes of water. Then spread in thin 
layers to allow to dry. 
Do not prepare solution of Bichloride of Mercury in metal 
containers. Only glass, earthenware or wooden vessels should 
be used. In working with the compound, the greatest caution 
should be exercised, as it is extremely poisonous. 
Semesan treatment affecting organisms on surface of 
seeds and fungi causing Damping Off: Follow directions 
printed on container. 
; Celery Seed does not require treatment against Late Blight, 
if seed is at least one year old before planting. 
SANITATION AND CULTURAL PRACTICES 
As the chart contains cultural as well as chemical control 
recommendations, a brief explanation of the term “Sanitation” 
is in order. 
The practice of sanitation is of such vital importance, that 
no grower can afford to ignore the subject. Yet, in many cases, 
serious losses result from a complete neglect of a few simple 
rules. Diseases will spread readily from sick to healthy plants 
by various means, depending upon the nature of the disease. 
Spores of many species of fungi are air or wind borne, while 
others may be scattered over fields in water, due to rain or 
irrigation. Insects play an important part in the dissemination 
of diseases, particularly those of the sucking type, such as 
aphids, thrips, etc. Too, certain cultural operations, as prun- 
ing, picking, transplanting, etc., are greatly responsible for the 
scattering of diseases, especially those caused by bacteria and 
viruses, mosaic being a specific example of the latter. 
Considering the methods of dissemination mentioned, it be- 
comes obvious that the source of the disease should be de- 
stroyed, if at all possible. Affected plants, as well as dropped, 
decaying fruit, should be removed from the field and burned 
or buried deeply. Cultivation should be clean and frequent. 
Mechanical injury of plants by plowing, spraying or picking 
operations should be avoided as much as possible. Crop rota- 
tion is essential, provided that no other crop affected by the 
responsible disease is grown for several years. This method 
often proves cheaper than an attempt to control the disease 
chemically. As weeds serve as host plants to many insects, 
which may be carriers of fungi, viruses, etc., the necessity of 
their eradication certainly becomes evident. Whenever prac- 
tical, soil moisture should be kept fairly constant. Corrective 
measures should be adopted where soils are either too acid 
or too alkaline. 
RESIDUE FROM POISONOUS INSECTICIDES 
The vegetable grower should refrain from applying stomach 
poisons (designated in the Dusting and Spraying Chart with *), 
such as arsenicals and Kryocide, to cole or leaf crops, after 
plants have begun to head. Likewise, it is not advisable to 
dust, or spray beans, tomatoes, peppers, cucurbits, etc., with 
such materials too close to picking time. 
DILUTION TABLE FOR INSECTICIDES AND 
FUNGICIDES 
Average amounts needed to make spray of 
Material 50 gals. 4 gallons 1 gallon 
Arsenate of Lead.............. 1% Ibs. 2 oz. 1 tablesp’n 
Blackeleea te. 0 =e, pt. 4 teasp’ns 1% teasp’ns 
Evergreen Spray............... Ipt. 2%tablesp’ns % teasp’n 
Fish Oil Soap 
(asmispreadcr) === 14% lbs. 2 oz. 1 tablesp’n 
Garden Volck Spray ..... 2s On Oz 2% tablesp’ns 
Krvocides = aaa 14% lbs. 2 oz. 1 tablesp’n 
Manganese Sulphate......... 3 Ibs. 4 oz. 2 tablesp’ns 
INicotro lee eee lqt. 5 tablesp’ns 4 teasp’n 
Parise Greens aes llb. 1% oz. 2 teasp’ns 
Penetrolim ees cee lqt. 5 tablesp’ns 4 teasp’ns 
[pAvauope (IbrCoqnitel)): os Sil bse) ORO zamcwits) meee eee 
Nicotine Pyrox 2... 13lbs. 20 oz. 3 tablesp’ns 
Red Arrow Insect Spray. lpt. 2% tablesp’ns % teasp’n 
Spergon Wettable............. 1% lbs. 2 oz. 1 tablesp’n 
SUN RYONOKS cept ee lqt. 5 tablesp’ns 4 teasp’ns 
Scalecide eee 31-3 gal. 2 pts. 1% pt. 
Yellow Cuprocide............. % Ib. 1 oz. 11% teasp’ns 
“ane Sulphate. .............. 132 lbs. 27 0z. 1 tablesp’n 
Note: One acre requires 75 to 200 gallons of liquid spray, 
depending upon nature of crop and size of plants. 

The Standard of Quality in Florida for Over 30 Years 
49 
